A stochastic parameterization of deep convection organization using cellular automata

Stochastic representations of atmospheric processes are becoming more and more frequent in order to address model errors associated with parameterization schemes and sub-grid scale variability, e.g. Lin and Neelin (2002), Shutts (2005), Teixeira and Reynolds (2008), Plant and Craig (2008), Berner et al. (2008). A typical example of sub-grid variability arises from organized deep convection in the atmosphere, which in turn is inherently associated with small-scale motions. Such processes are not well represented by grid-box means in NWP models Lin and Neelin (2002), Palmer (2001).