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Evaluation of E3SM Simulated Aerosols and Aerosol‐Cloud Interactions Across GCM and Convection‐Permitting Scales.

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Title: Evaluation of E3SM Simulated Aerosols and Aerosol‐Cloud Interactions Across GCM and Convection‐Permitting Scales.
Authors: Huang, Meng1 (AUTHOR) meng.huang@pnnl.gov, Ma, Po‐Lun1 (AUTHOR), Varble, Adam C.1 (AUTHOR), Fast, Jerome D.1 (AUTHOR), Hassan, Taufiq1 (AUTHOR), Li, Jianfeng1 (AUTHOR), Qin, Yi1 (AUTHOR), Tang, Shuaiqi2 (AUTHOR), Ullrich, Paul A.3 (AUTHOR), Yao, Yu4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. Dec2025, Vol. 17 Issue 12, p1-21. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Aerosols, *Aerosol analysis, *Atmospheric aerosol measurement, Cloud condensation nuclei, Multiscale modeling, Computer simulation, Cloud dynamics, Spatial resolution
Abstract: This paper introduces an Earth system modeling testbed for predicting aerosols and aerosol‐cloud interactions (ACIs) at convection‐permitting scales. Using the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) version 2 with a four‐mode Modal Aerosol Module, we conduct simulations at 3.25 km resolution on a regionally refined mesh (RRM) across four regions with distinct aerosol and cloud regimes. Results are compared with the standard 100 km E3SM configuration and evaluated against satellite, aircraft, and ground‐based observations. We find that increasing model resolution improves heavy precipitation simulation but amplifies positive bias in light drizzle at coarse resolution. These resolution‐induced changes affect cloud and aerosol properties to varying degrees across regions. Generally, cloud cover and liquid water path (LWP) show better agreement with satellite retrievals at 3.25 km, though surface‐based comparisons suggest otherwise. Aerosol composition remains poorly represented at both resolutions. The RRM increases Aitken mode aerosol number concentrations via enhanced new particle formation. However, accumulation mode aerosols are decreased at higher resolution as aerosol removals become more efficient. This partially contributes to fewer cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and lower cloud droplet number concentrations (Nd ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{d}}$), which produces larger model biases in some scenarios. These findings suggest that solely increasing horizontal resolution to kilometer scales is insufficient to broadly improve aerosol and cloud predictions without concurrent advancements in physical and chemical process representations. Nonetheless, the RRM moderately improves key ACI relationships such as CCN‐Nd ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{d}}$ correlation, reflecting enhanced aerosol activation representation. The LWP‐Nd ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{d}}$ relationship is also better captured by RRM, suggesting a better characterization of LWP adjustment. Plain Language Summary: This study examines the impact of increasing spatial resolution in Earth system models on the representation of aerosols and aerosol‐cloud interactions. Traditional models with coarse resolution (∼ ${\sim} $100 km grid spacing) struggle to sufficiently represent these processes, leading to uncertainties in Earth system projections. Using the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) at a kilometer‐scale resolution, achieved through regionally refined mesh, we explored four distinct geographic regions to cover varying aerosol and cloud regimes. We conclude that higher resolution improves certain aspects of aerosol‐cloud interactions. However, it is insufficient to universally improve aerosol and cloud properties, emphasizing the additional need for refined process representations to achieve more accurate aerosol and cloud simulations. Key Points: The capability of Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) to predict interactive aerosols at convection‐permitting scales is demonstratedConvection‐permitting E3SM improves aerosol‐cloud interaction relationships compared to traditional 100‐km Earth system modelsMany aerosol and cloud biases remain at convection‐permitting scales, stressing the need for concurrent process representation improvements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Evaluation of E3SM Simulated Aerosols and Aerosol‐Cloud Interactions Across GCM and Convection‐Permitting Scales.
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  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huang%2C+Meng%22">Huang, Meng</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> meng.huang@pnnl.gov</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ma%2C+Po‐Lun%22">Ma, Po‐Lun</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Varble%2C+Adam+C%2E%22">Varble, Adam C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fast%2C+Jerome+D%2E%22">Fast, Jerome D.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hassan%2C+Taufiq%22">Hassan, Taufiq</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Jianfeng%22">Li, Jianfeng</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qin%2C+Yi%22">Qin, Yi</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tang%2C+Shuaiqi%22">Tang, Shuaiqi</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ullrich%2C+Paul+A%2E%22">Ullrich, Paul A.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yao%2C+Yu%22">Yao, Yu</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Advances+in+Modeling+Earth+Systems%22">Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 17 Issue 12, p1-21. 21p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerosols%22">Aerosols</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerosol+analysis%22">Aerosol analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+aerosol+measurement%22">Atmospheric aerosol measurement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cloud+condensation+nuclei%22">Cloud condensation nuclei</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multiscale+modeling%22">Multiscale modeling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+simulation%22">Computer simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cloud+dynamics%22">Cloud dynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+resolution%22">Spatial resolution</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This paper introduces an Earth system modeling testbed for predicting aerosols and aerosol‐cloud interactions (ACIs) at convection‐permitting scales. Using the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) version 2 with a four‐mode Modal Aerosol Module, we conduct simulations at 3.25 km resolution on a regionally refined mesh (RRM) across four regions with distinct aerosol and cloud regimes. Results are compared with the standard 100 km E3SM configuration and evaluated against satellite, aircraft, and ground‐based observations. We find that increasing model resolution improves heavy precipitation simulation but amplifies positive bias in light drizzle at coarse resolution. These resolution‐induced changes affect cloud and aerosol properties to varying degrees across regions. Generally, cloud cover and liquid water path (LWP) show better agreement with satellite retrievals at 3.25 km, though surface‐based comparisons suggest otherwise. Aerosol composition remains poorly represented at both resolutions. The RRM increases Aitken mode aerosol number concentrations via enhanced new particle formation. However, accumulation mode aerosols are decreased at higher resolution as aerosol removals become more efficient. This partially contributes to fewer cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and lower cloud droplet number concentrations (Nd ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{d}}$), which produces larger model biases in some scenarios. These findings suggest that solely increasing horizontal resolution to kilometer scales is insufficient to broadly improve aerosol and cloud predictions without concurrent advancements in physical and chemical process representations. Nonetheless, the RRM moderately improves key ACI relationships such as CCN‐Nd ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{d}}$ correlation, reflecting enhanced aerosol activation representation. The LWP‐Nd ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{d}}$ relationship is also better captured by RRM, suggesting a better characterization of LWP adjustment. Plain Language Summary: This study examines the impact of increasing spatial resolution in Earth system models on the representation of aerosols and aerosol‐cloud interactions. Traditional models with coarse resolution (∼ ${\sim} $100 km grid spacing) struggle to sufficiently represent these processes, leading to uncertainties in Earth system projections. Using the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) at a kilometer‐scale resolution, achieved through regionally refined mesh, we explored four distinct geographic regions to cover varying aerosol and cloud regimes. We conclude that higher resolution improves certain aspects of aerosol‐cloud interactions. However, it is insufficient to universally improve aerosol and cloud properties, emphasizing the additional need for refined process representations to achieve more accurate aerosol and cloud simulations. Key Points: The capability of Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) to predict interactive aerosols at convection‐permitting scales is demonstratedConvection‐permitting E3SM improves aerosol‐cloud interaction relationships compared to traditional 100‐km Earth system modelsMany aerosol and cloud biases remain at convection‐permitting scales, stressing the need for concurrent process representation improvements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2025MS005288
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Aerosols
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aerosol analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric aerosol measurement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cloud condensation nuclei
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multiscale modeling
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      – SubjectFull: Computer simulation
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      – SubjectFull: Cloud dynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spatial resolution
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Evaluation of E3SM Simulated Aerosols and Aerosol‐Cloud Interactions Across GCM and Convection‐Permitting Scales.
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              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
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