Understanding London's summertime cloud cover

Theeuwes, N. E., Boutle, I. A., Clark, P. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1001-9226 and Grimmond, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3166-9415 (2022) Understanding London's summertime cloud cover. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 148 (742). pp. 454-465. ISSN 0035-9009 doi: 10.1002/qj.4214

Abstract/Summary

Cities are a source of complex land--atmosphere interactions. Spatial differences in the energy balance and enhanced surface roughness interact with the atmosphere to alter clouds and precipitation. Here, we explore how London (UK) alters cloud formation during the spring and summer. The Met Office's high-resolution operational forecasts predict enhanced cloud cover over the city as found in observations, but underpredicts the intensity. During low wind-speeds, cloud enhancement over the city is strongest and linked to an urban induced thermal circulation. These circulations advect moist air from the city edge inwards, transporting it upwards with a large moisture convergence over the urban area. At around 1000 m above the surface, the turbulent moisture flux takes over the moisture transport to the cloud layer. A relative-humidity budget shows the moisture flux in the upper boundary layer to be the largest contribution to the urban-rural differences in relative humidity.