Convective Steady State in Shallow Cloud Fields

Shallow cloud fields exhibit different patterns, such as closed or open hexagonal cells and cloud streets. These patterns play a key role in determining the cloud fields' radiative effects, thereby affecting the climate. Here, we show that a large subset of shallow cloud fields forms organized, mesoscale-sized, regular patterns that persist for extended times. It emanates from the steady state of the underlying rigid configuration of convection cells. From a climate perspective, in a sea of cloud complexity, the convective steady-state provides an "island of simplicity." The convective steady state can be parametrized in climate models to better capture the feedback of such cloud fields in a warming climate.