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Convective parameterization is the long-lasting bottleneck of global climate modelling and one of the most difficult problems in atmospheric sciences. Uncertainty in convective parameterization is the leading cause of the widespread climate sensitivity in IPCC global warming projections. This paper reviews the observations and parameterizations of atmospheric convection with emphasis on the cloud structure, bulk effects, and closure assumption. The representative state-of-the-art convection schemes are presented, including the ECMWF convection scheme, the Grell scheme used in NCEP model and WRF model, the Zhang-MacFarlane scheme used in NCAR and DOE models, and parameterizations of shallow moist convection. The observed convection has self-suppression mechanisms caused by entrainment in convective updrafts, surface cold pool generated by unsaturated convective downdrafts, and warm and dry lower troposphere created by mesoscale downdrafts. The post-convection environment is often characterized by “diamond sounding” suggesting an over-stabilization rather than barely returning to neutral state. Then the pre-convection environment is characterized by slow moistening of lower troposphere triggered by surface moisture convergence and other mechanisms. The over-stabilization and slow moistening make the convection events episodic and decouple the middle/upper troposphere from the boundary layer, making the state-type quasi-equilibrium hypothesis invalid. Right now, unsaturated convective downdrafts and especially mesoscale downdrafts are missing in most convection schemes, while some schemes are using undiluted convective updrafts, all of which favour easily turned-on convection linked to double-ITCZ (inter-tropical convergence zone), overly weak MJO (Madden-Julian Oscillation) and precocious diurnal precipitation maximum. We propose a new strategy for convection scheme development using reanalysis-driven model experiments such as the assimilation runs in weather prediction centres and the decadal prediction runs in climate modelling centres, aided by satellite simulators evaluating key characteristics such as the lifecycle of convective cloud-top distribution and stratiform precipitation fraction. 

Abstract Ion consumption plays key roles in maintaining bodily homeostasis and health. Here passive wireless, multimineral comonitoring arrays are studied that may potentially be utilized for emerging applications in precision nutrition. RF biosensors targeting select minerals (calcium or magnesium demonstrated herein) are built from integrating ion‐selective membranes within a broadside‐coupled split ring resonator architecture. RF sensors are typically monitored one at a time and such platforms often are incapable of comeasuring multiple confounding components. To address this challenge, this sensor arrays are further directly integrated alongside a conformal, custom readout coil that optimizes multi‐RF sensor readout. Such optimized networks exhibit enhanced signal clarity, further facilitating coextraction of multiple ion components. A simple method of extracting multimineral concentrations from food even despite the imperfect selectivity of divalent ion‐selective membranes is introduced. This passive wireless, zero‐electronic ion‐monitoring platform integrates seamlessly on foodware or packaging, possessing many applications in food measurement.