How can latitudinal differences (e.g., polar vs. midlatitude conditions) be implemented within the RCE framework of Konrad?

[Atmospheric-Sciences]

For example, how can we design experiments for the tropics, mid–high latitudes, and polar regions? The tutorial seems to provide a standard atmospheric profile by default.

[lkluft]

Thank you for getting in touch!

In Konrad, individual simulations are always restricted to a single column. However, you can run different simulations with modified boundary conditions. To mimic latitudinal differences, it would likely involve different surface temperatures and zenith angles in the radiation scheme.

Bear in mind, though, that the underlying assumptions of RCE become less valid at higher latitudes. For example, at very cold surface temperatures, Konrad will still produce a moist adiabat instead of temperature profiles with inversions, as are often observed.

[Atmospheric-Sciences]

Thank you very much for your helpful explanation. This clarifies how latitudinal differences can be approximated in Konrad using modified boundary conditions such as surface temperature and zenith angle. I also appreciate the note about the limitations of the RCE framework at higher latitudes.

[kuchaale]

Is there a way how to approximate Radiative–Advective Equilibrium using Konrad? We used Konrad and the RCE configuration to calculate heating rates and temperature prescribing Hunga-Tonga induced water vapour and ozone anomalies (see our Fig. A3 in this preprint). However, RCE does not hold in the tropics.