Variations of sensible and latent heat fluxes between different soil and vegetation conditions can in some cases be significant and may influence the local development (timing, location and intensity) of deep convective cloud systems. The Principal Investigators will perform a systematic set of numerical experiments in order to quantify the mechanisms and effects by which surface thermal and moisture forcing affect the development of deep convective clouds over different types of terrain. Emphasis will be placed on vegetated and bare soil surfaces as well as sea surfaces under a variety of evapotranspiration conditions. The results will contribute to a basic understanding of the ways by which surface characteristics influence the development of local deep convection and may suggest refinements in the forecasting of such events.
