Numerical Simulation of the Diurnal Evolution of Tropical Island Convection over the Maritime Continent

Abstract Numerical simulations of the diurnal evolution of tropical island convection observed during the Maritime Continent Thunderstorm Experiment (MCTEX) are performed using the Meteorological Research Institute nonhydrostatic model (MRI NHM). The MRI NHM is double-nested within a form of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre’s Limited-Area Assimilation and Prediction System specially operated for the MCTEX period. Excellent agreement is found between the simulation and observed evolution of the convective clouds over the Tiwi Islands on 27 November 1995. A transition from horizontal convection occurring during the morning to vertical convection in afternoon is evident. In the morning, the sea breeze appears along the coastlines, with a clear contrast evident in structure between the windward and leeward sides. At the windward coast, the sea breeze intrudes inland more rapidly, where the larger surface heat flux modifies the lowest air mass and makes the sea breeze front (SBF) indistinct...