Contrasting contributions of surface hydrological pathways in convection permitting and parameterised climate simulations over Africa and their feedbacks on the atmosphere

Abstract The partitioning of rainfall at the land surface into interception, infiltration and runoff plays an important role in water cycle as it controls time scale which returns to atmosphere. Rainfall intensity is crucial importance this partition. High resolution convection permitting models significantly improve simulated sub-daily distributions, particular those associated with convective tropics. Here we compare hydrological response a pair 10-year simulations over African domain performed using Met Office Unified Model: typical configuration parameterised operating 25 km second high simulation 4.5 parametrized switched off. Overall pan-African interception scheme 70% lower, whilst 43% higher than parameterized model. These changes are driven by less frequent, but more intense 25% increase above 20 mm h −1 has ~ 50% canopy contribution evaporative fraction negligible scheme. Conversely, throughfall leading soil moisture weeks following rain resulting 30–50% decrease daytime sensible heat flux. We examine how sub-grid parameterisation model for differences between two configurations. show how, switching off can substantially impact behaviour.