Modeling Arctic Boundary Layer Cloud Streets at Grey-zone Resolutions

To better understand how model resolution affects the formation of Arctic boundary layer clouds,we investigated the influence of grid spacing on simulating cloud streets that occurred near Utqiaġvik(formerly Barrow),Alaska,on 2 May 2013 and were observed by MODIS(the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer).The Weather Research and Forecasting model was used to simulate the clouds using nested domains with increasingly fine resolution ranging from a horizontal grid spacing of 27 km in the boundary-layer-parameterized mesoscale domain to a grid spacing of 0.111 km in the large-eddy-permitting domain.We investigated the model-simulated mesoscale environment,horizontal and vertical cloud structures,boundary layer stability,and cloud properties,all of which were subsequently used to interpret the observed roll-cloud case.Increasing model resolution led to a transition from a more buoyant boundary layer to a more shear-driven turbulent boundary layer.The clouds were stratiform-like in the mesoscale domain,but as the model resolution increased,roll-like structures,aligned along the wind field,appeared with ever smaller wavelengths.A stronger vertical water vapor gradient occurred above the cloud layers with decreasing grid spacing.With fixed model grid spacing at 0.333 km,changing the model configuration from a boundary layer parameterization to a large-eddy-permitting scheme produced a more shear-driven and less unstable environment,a stronger vertical water vapor gradient below the cloud layers,and the wavelengths of the rolls decreased slightly.In this study,only the large-eddy-permitting simulation with gird spacing of 0.111 km was sufficient to model the observed roll clouds.     

提高模式分辨率后热带气旋生成迟缓的原因分析

利用目前国际上最先进的中尺度WRF模式模拟热带气旋生成,网格分辨率从9 km增加到3 km,3 km网格中积云参数化方案不起作用,依靠微物理方案来模拟对流尺度系统特征,模式中热带气旋的生成过程变得迟缓。当低压扰动发展到一定程度后再加入3 km网格,生成过程有加快趋势。本研究针对该现象进行分析。结果表明:只用微物理方案使低层(950～700 hPa)风速的垂直切变减小,不利于对流发展;切变减小主要是由于动量垂直输送项的差异所致。在加入细网格的6 h内,低层对流尺度(减去区域平均)的动量垂直输送量平均增加了一倍,某些时刻达到了5倍以上;动量混合增加是由于微物理方案模拟的垂直速度增加所致。此外,只用微物理方案导致对流有效位能迅速被消耗。低层垂直切变和对流有效位能的减小都不利于对流发展,从而导致热带气旋生成发展过程迟缓。本研究表明,目前WRF中的微物理方案在模拟热带气旋生成过程中的对流发展时仍然存在问题。     

A cloud-resolving regional simulation of tropical cyclone formation

The development of Tropical Cyclone Diana (1984) is simulated with a mesoscale model using 1.2 km grid spacing over a regional-scale (>1000 km) domain in the first known experiment of this kind. With only a synoptic-scale disturbance in the initial conditions, the model first develops a mesoscale convective system along a remnant frontal zone, which yields a mesoscale vortex. After a period of quiescence, banded convection organizes about the vortex from isolated, grid-resolved cells, with the system becoming warm-core and intensifying into Tropical Storm Diana.     

2006年7—9月西北太平洋热带气旋季节活动的数值模拟

利用NCEP（National Centers for Environmental Prediction）提供的1°×1°的FNL（final）资料和中尺度WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting）模式,研究了热带气旋（tropical cyclone,简记TC）动力季节预报的可能性,通过在27km的粗网格中运用张弛逼近（Nudging）技术,对2006年7-9月西北太平洋TC活动进行了92d的连续数值积分。与观测结果比较表明,WRF模式不仅较好地模拟了MJO（Madden-Julian oscillation）和准双周振荡的活动情况,而且模拟的TC频数、移动路径和强度都与实际观测结果比较接近。在嵌套的9km网格中,不仅模拟出眼墙、暖心等TC结构的主要特征和TC的西行盛行路径及登陆活动情况,而且所模拟的生成过程包括早期研究中提出的TC生成过程中的两次快速发展的过程。模拟的TC初始涡旋主要出现在季风槽中,伴随准双周振荡活动,它的第一次发展在初始涡旋中心形成强烈的对流区;经过一段时间的减弱后,在有利的大尺度形势下,涡旋中心湿水汽层迅速增厚,导致气旋的第二次强烈发展。     

不同云降水方案对一次登陆台风的降水模拟

利用美国最新发展的新一代中尺度数值预报模式(WRF),研究了不同云降水方案对一次登陆台风的降水模拟问题,结果表明,在网格距适当小的情况下,同时采用积云对流参数化方案和云微物理方案(Kessler方案)时,其降水预报优于只使用积云对流参数化方案时的预报;在台风降水模拟的初期,Kain-Fritsch方案比Betts-Miller方案产生降水更快,更接近实况降水;在台风登陆后随时间的延长,对流降水重要性逐步下降,网格尺度降水逐渐增强。     

Simulation of Extreme Updrafts in the Tropical Cyclone Eyewall

Strong vertical motion(10 m s~(-1)) has profound implications for tropical cyclone(TC) structure changes and intensity. While extreme updrafts in the TC are occasionally observed in real TCs, the associated small-scale features remain unclear. Based on an analysis of the extreme eyewall updrafts in two numerical experiments conducted with the Advanced Research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF) model, in which the large-eddy simulation(LES) technique was used with the finest grid spacings of 37 and 111 m, for the first time this study demonstrates that the simulated extreme updrafts that occur mainly in the enhanced eyewall convection on the down-shear left side are comparable to available observations. The simulated extreme updraft exhibits relatively high frequencies in the lower(750 m), middle(6.5 km) and upper(13 km) troposphere, which are associated with different types of small-scale structures.While the lower-level extreme updraft is mainly related to the tornado-scale vortex, the extreme updraft at upper levels is closely associated with a pair of counter-rotating horizontal rolls oriented generally along the TC tangential flow, which are closely associated with the enhanced eyewall convection. The extreme updraft at middle levels is related to relatively complicated small-scale structures. The study suggests that extreme updrafts can be simulated when the grid spacing is about 100 m or less in the WRF-LES framework, although the simulated small-scale features need further verification in both observation and simulation.     

卫星遥感地表植被及其在华南暴雨中尺度数值模拟中的应用试验

将我国植被资料和NCAR资料分别用于非静力平衡中尺度模式MM5, 对1998年5月23~24日华南暴雨进行数值模拟试验, 比较其对降水量和动力热力场预报的影响, 结果表明, 当网格格距为45 km时, 二者差别很小, 当网格格距减小到5~15 km, 预报降水量最大值增加了12%~14%, 更接近观测值, 同时对低层大气热力动力结构也有一定影响。     

WRF模式物理参数化方案对一次局地大暴雨预报的影响研究

基于WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting)模式及其3Dvar(3-Dimentional Variational)资料同化系统,采用36、12、4 km嵌套网格进行快速更新循环同化和不同的微物理及积云对流参数化方案对比试验,对2011年5月8日鲁中一次局地大暴雨过程进行了研究。结果表明,快速更新循环同化地面观测资料是影响模式降水落区预报准确性的关键因素,不同的微物理和积云对流参数化方案主要影响降水强度预报。采用不同的微物理参数化方案和积云对流参数化方案进行降水预报对比试验表明,LIN方案和WSM6(WRF Single-Moment 6-class)微物理参数化方案对降水预报均较好,LIN方案降水预报较WSM6方案略强。4 km网格预报使用K-F (Kain-Fritsch)积云对流参数化方案或不使用积云对流参数化方案,预报的降水均较好。4 km网格使用旧的K-F积云对流参数化方案,预报的近地层大气风场偏弱,导致大气动力抬升作用偏弱,从而造成模式降水预报偏弱。     

气溶胶对北京中尺度对流系统影响的数值试验

利用可分辨云模式(WRF),模拟研究了不同气溶胶浓度对北京地区2001年8月23日一次产生强降水和冰雹的对流天气的影响。结果表明,气溶胶浓度的增加不利于对流云的发展,导致地面降水减小,但是对降水结构没有明显影响。气溶胶浓度增加导致云中水成物数浓度和质量浓度均发生变化,其中云水、冰晶和雪含量增加,而雨水、霰和雹含量减小。从云微物理学分析发现,气溶胶浓度减小有利于高层云的形成,云滴有效半径随着气溶胶浓度增加而减小。     

Analysis and simulation of mesoscale convective systems accompanying heavy rainfall: The goyang case

We investigated a torrential rainfall case with a daily rainfall amount of 379 mm and a maximum hourly rain rate of 77.5 mm that took place on 12 July 2006 at Goyang in the middlewestern part of the Korean Peninsula. The heavy rainfall was responsible for flash flooding and was highly localized. High-resolution Doppler radar data from 5 radar sites located over central Korea were analyzed. Numerical simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model were also performed to complement the high-resolution observations and to further investigate the thermodynamic structure and development of the convective system. The grid nudging method using the Global Final (FNL) Analyses data was applied to the coarse model domain (30 km) in order to provide a more realistic and desirable initial and boundary conditions for the nested model domains (10 km, 3.3 km). The mesoscale convective system (MCS) which caused flash flooding was initiated by the strong low level jet (LLJ) at the frontal region of high equivalent potential temperature (θ_e) near the west coast over the Yellow Sea. The ascending of the warm and moist air was induced dynamically by the LLJ. The convective cells were triggered by small thermal perturbations and abruptly developed by the warm θ_e inflow. Within the MCS, several convective cells responsible for the rainfall peak at Goyang simultaneously developed with neighboring cells and interacted with each other. Moist absolutely unstable layers (MAULs) were seen at the lower troposphere with the very moist environment adding the instability for the development of the MCS.     

一次山地环流激发对流天气的数值模拟

东北地区的地形对本地天气有着举足轻重的影响。利用WRF中尺度数值模式,对2006年10月16日东北地区一次冷锋雷暴带之前次级环流在长白山山地前部环流附近,激发出另一条对流带的过程进行了模拟。通过对高时空分辨率的模拟结果分析,揭示了这次过程中,两条雷暴带的形成与山地附近环流之间的相互作用关系。即,冷锋对流带前部的下沉气流和山地附近的垂直环流之间的相互作用导致了第二条回波的产生,是一起较为罕见的辐合线生成在空中,然后激发出另外一条对流系统出现的过程。     

新疆“2.28” 大风的中尺度数值模拟

受西西伯利亚较强冷空气入侵的影响,2007年2月28日02时,乌鲁木齐开往阿克苏的5807次旅客列车,在新疆三十里风区遭遇狂风,造成11节车厢脱轨侧翻。使用WRF模式对这次大风天气过程进行了数值模拟。结果表明：WRF模式较好地模拟了三十里风区大风的演变和分布特征,对逐时风速的模拟较实况偏小,但变化比较同步;很大的气压梯度和特殊的地形是大风形成的主要原因,狭管效应和下坡风同时存在。     

Proof of the monotonicity of grid size and its application in grid-size selection for mesoscale models

Terrain characteristics can be accurately represented in spectrum space. Terrain spectra can quantitatively reflect the effect of topographic dynamic forcing on the atmosphere. In wavelength space, topographic spectral energy decreases with decreasing wavelength, in spite of several departures. This relationship is approximated by an exponential function. A power law relationship between the terrain height spectra and wavelength is fitted by the least-squares method, and the fitting slope is associated with grid-size selection for mesoscale models. The monotonicity of grid size is investigated, and it is strictly proved that grid size increases with increasing fitting exponent, indicating that the universal grid size is determined by the minimum fitting exponent. An example of landslide-prone areas in western Sichuan is given, and the universal grid spacing of 4.1 km is shown to be a requirement to resolve 90% of terrain height variance for mesoscale models, without resorting to the parameterization of subgrid-scale terrain variance. Comparison among results of different simulations shows that the simulations estimate the observed precipitation well when using a resolution of 4.1 km or finer. Although the main flow patterns are similar, finer grids produce more complex patterns that show divergence zones, convergence zones and vortices.Horizontal grid size significantly affects the vertical structure of the convective boundary layer. Stronger vertical wind components are simulated for finer grid resolutions. In particular, noticeable sinking airflows over mountains are captured for those model configurations.     

Nesting Turbulence in an Offshore Convective Boundary Layer Using Large-Eddy Simulations

The applicability of the one-way nesting technique for numerical simulations of the heterogeneous atmospheric boundary layer using the large-eddy simulation (LES) framework of the Weather Research and Forecasting model is investigated. The focus of this study is on LES of offshore convective boundary layers. Simulations were carried out using two subgrid-scale models (linear and non-linear) with two different closures [diagnostic and prognostic subgrid-scale turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) equations]. We found that the non-linear backscatter and anisotropy model with a prognostic subgrid-scale TKE equation is capable of providing similar results when performing one-way nested LES to a stand-alone domain having the same grid resolution but using periodic lateral boundary conditions. A good agreement is obtained in terms of velocity shear and turbulent fluxes, while velocity variances are overestimated. A streamwise fetch of 14 km is needed following each domain transition in order for the solution to reach quasi-stationary results and for the velocity spectra to generate proper energy content at high wavelengths, however, a pile-up of energy is observed at the low-wavelength portion of the spectrum on the first nested domain. The inclusion of a second nest with higher resolution allows the solution to reach effective grid spacing well within the Kolmogorov inertial subrange of turbulence and develop an appropriate energy cascade that eliminates most of the pile-up of energy at low wavelengths. Consequently, the overestimation of velocity variances is substantially reduced and a considerably better agreement with respect to the stand-alone domain results is achieved.     

A Numerical Study of the Evolution of a Mesoscale Convective Vortex on the Meiyu Front

The Advanced Research WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting） model is used to simulate the evolution of a mesoscale convective vortex（MCV） that formed on the Meiyu front and lasted for more than two days. The simulation is used to investigate the underlying reasons for the genesis, intensification, and vertical expansion of the MCV. This MCV is of a type of mid-level MCV that often develops in the stratiform regions of mesoscale convective systems. The vortex strengthened and reached its maximum intensity and vertical extent（from the surface to upper levels） when secondary organized convection developed within the mid-level circulation. The factors controling the evolution of the kinetic and thermal structure of the MCV are examined through an analysis of the budgets of vorticity, temperature, and energy. The evolution of the local Rossby radius of deformation reveals the interrelated nature of the MCV and its parent mesoscale convective system.     

Temporal Evolution of Low-Level Winds Induced by Two-dimensional Mesoscale Surface Heat-Flux Heterogeneity

Using large-eddy simulation (LES), the effects of mesoscale local surface heterogeneity on the temporal evolution of low-level flows in the convective boundary layer driven by two-dimensional surface heat-flux variations are investigated at a height of about 100 m over flat terrain. The surface variations are prescribed with sinusoids of wavelength 32 km and varying amplitudes of 0, 50, 100, and 200 W m $^{-2}$ . The Weather Research and Forecasting numerical model is used as a mesoscale-domain LES model that has a grid spacing fine enough to explicitly resolve energy-containing turbulent eddies and a model domain large enough to include mesoscale circulations. Mesoscale circulations induced by the two-dimensional surface heterogeneity may undergo a flow transition and an associated spectral energy cascade, which has been found previously but only with one-dimensional surface heat-flux variations. Over a strongly heterogeneous surface prescribed with a two-dimensional sinusoid of amplitude 200 W m $^{-2}$ , the domain-averaged variance of the horizontal wind component initially grows rapidly, then undergoes a flow transition and subsequently rapidly decays. With a background wind, the induced mesoscale circulations are inhibited in the streamwise direction. However in the spanwise direction, somewhat stronger mesoscale circulations are induced, compared with those with no background wind. The background wind attenuates the significant reduction of the low-level temperature gradient by the fully-developed mesoscale horizontal flow. Spectral decomposition reveals that this rapid transition also exists in the mesoscale horizontal flows induced by the intermediate surface heterogeneity prescribed with a sinusoid of amplitude 100 W m $^{-2}$ . However the transition is masked by continuously growing turbulence.     

Assessment of the WRF model in reproducing a flash-flood heavy rainfall event over Korea

This study examines the ability of the cloud-resolving weather research and forecasting (WRF) model to reproduce the convective cells associated with the flash-flooding heavy rainfall near Seoul, South Korea, on 12 July 2006. A triply nested WRF model with the highest resolution of 3-km horizontal grid spacing was integrated with conventional analysis data. The WRF model simulated the initiation of isolated thunderstorms, and the formation of a convective band, cloud cluster, and squall line at nearly the right time. The corresponding precipitation simulation was also reasonably reproduced in its distribution, although the amount was underestimated. A sensitivity experiment that excludes the orography over the peninsula revealed that orographic forcing over the peninsula is responsible for about 20% increase in precipitation over the heavy rainfall region. It was identified that in addition to the up-lifting local orographic forcing to the west of the mountain range in South Korea, anticyclonic circulation due to the presence of the Gaema Heights in North Korea contribute to the confinement of convective activities in the heavy rainfall region.     

Bridging the Transition from Mesoscale to Microscale Turbulence in Numerical Weather Prediction Models

With a focus towards developing multiscale capabilities in numerical weather prediction models, the specific problem of the transition from the mesoscale to the microscale is investigated. For that purpose, idealized one-way nested mesoscale to large-eddy simulation (LES) experiments were carried out using the Weather Research and Forecasting model framework. It is demonstrated that switching from one-dimensional turbulent diffusion in the mesoscale model to three-dimensional LES mixing does not necessarily result in an instantaneous development of turbulence in the LES domain. On the contrary, very large fetches are needed for the natural transition to turbulence to occur. The computational burden imposed by these long fetches necessitates the development of methods to accelerate the generation of turbulence on a nested LES domain forced by a smooth mesoscale inflow. To that end, four new methods based upon finite amplitude perturbations of the potential temperature field along the LES inflow boundaries are developed, and investigated under convective conditions. Each method accelerated the development of turbulence within the LES domain, with two of the methods resulting in a rapid generation of production and inertial range energy content associated to microscales that is consistent with non-nested simulations using periodic boundary conditions. The cell perturbation approach, the simplest and most efficient of the best performing methods, was investigated further under neutral and stable conditions. Successful results were obtained in all the regimes, where satisfactory agreement of mean velocity, variances and turbulent fluxes, as well as velocity and temperature spectra, was achieved with reference non-nested simulations. In contrast, the non-perturbed LES solution exhibited important energy deficits associated to a delayed establishment of fully-developed turbulence. The cell perturbation method has negligible computational cost, significantly accelerates the generation of realistic turbulence, and requires minimal parameter tuning, with the necessary information relatable to mean inflow conditions provided by the mesoscale solution.     

Operational convective-scale data assimilation over Iran: A comparison between WRF and HARMONIE-AROME

The impact of applying three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3D-Var DA) on convective-scale forecasts is investigated by using two mesoscale models, the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF-ARW) and the Hirlam and Aladin Research Model On Non-hydrostatic-forecast Inside Europe (HARMONIE-AROME). One month (1 to 30 December 2013) of numerical experiments were conducted with these two models at 2.5 km horizontal resolution, in order to partly resolve convective phenomena, on the same domain over a mountainous area in Iran and neighboring areas. Furthermore, in order to estimate the domain specific background error statistics (BES) in convective scales, two months (1 November to 30 December 2017) of numerical experiments were carried out with both models by downscaling operational ECMWF forecasts. For setting the numerical experiments in an operational scenario, ECMWF operational forecast data were used as initial and lateral boundary conditions (ICs/LBCs). In order to examine the impact of data assimilation, the 3D-Var method in cycling mode was adopted and the forecasts were verified every 6 hours up to 36 hours for selected meteorological variables. In addition, 24 h accumulated precipitation forecasts were verified separately. Generally, the WRF and HARMONIE-AROME exhibit similar verification statistics for the selected forecast variables. The impact of DA on the numerical forecast shows some evidence of improvement in both models, and this effect decreases severely at longer lead times. Results from verifying the 24 h convective-scale precipitation forecasts from both models with and without DA suggest the superiority of the WRF model in forecasting more accurately the occurred precipitation over the simulation domain, even for the downscaling run.     

Performance of WRF Large Eddy Simulations in Modeling the Convective Boundary Layer over the Taklimakan Desert,China

The maximum height of the convective boundary layer(CBL)over the Taklimakan Desert can exceed 5000 m during summer and plays a crucial role in the regional circulation and weather.We combined the Weather Research and Forecasting Large Eddy Simulation(WRF-LES)with data from Global Positioning System(GPS)radiosondes and from eddy covariance stations to evaluate the performance of the WRF-LES in simulating the characteristics of the deep CBL over the central Taklimakan Desert.The model reproduced the evolution of the CBL processes reasonably well,but the simulations generated warmer and moister conditions than the observation as a result of the over-prediction of surface fluxes and large-scale advection.Further simulations were performed with multiple configurations and sensitivity tests.The sensitivity tests for the lateral boundary conditions(LBCs)showed that the model results are sensitive to changes in the time resolution and domain size of the specified LBCs.A larger domain size varies the distance of the area of interest from the LBCs and reduces the influence of large forecast errors near the LBCs.Comparing the model results using the original parameterization of sensible heat flux with the Noah land surface scheme and those of the sensitivity experiments showed that the desert CBL is sensitive to the sensible heat flux produced by the land surface scheme during daytime in summer.A reduction in the sensible heat flux can correct overestimates of the potential temperature profile.However,increasing the sensible heat flux significantly reduces the total time needed to increase the CBL to a relatively low altitude(3 km)in the middle and initial stages of the development of the CBL rather than producing a higher CBL in the later stages.