On the efficiency of stratospheric gravity wave production from mid‐latitude convective systems: <scp>2D</scp> versus <scp>3D</scp> dynamics

Abstract This study conducted idealized simulations to compare stratospheric gravity waves (GWs) generated in two‐dimensional (2D) convective systems with those in three‐dimensional (3D) convective systems. Our results indicate that the efficiency of GW production, measured by total vertical momentum and energy fluxes normalized by rain rate, is significantly higher in 2D systems than in 3D systems. This increased efficiency is attributed to greater convective organization within the 2D systems. By analyzing the domain‐averaged entrainment rate, we identified a strong correlation between convective organization and GW production efficiency, which may be useful for GW parameterizations in climate models. Additionally, we observed a distinct component in the ground‐relative ω – k power spectrum with relatively high frequency and a slope matching local mean flow speed. This feature demonstrates the presence of northward‐ and southward‐moving waves that propagate perpendicular to the zonal flow, which also cannot exist in 2D simulations. The results show the importance of using 3D simulations to fully understand the behavior and impact of GWs generated by atmospheric convection.