Application of a mixed-layer model to bare soil surfaces

A model that couples the surface energy balance equation, a surface hydraulic resistance equation, and the force-restore soil temperature model to a mixed-layer model of the planetary boundary layer is described. The mixed layer is separated from the soil by a relatively thin surface layer and is overlain by a stable free atmosphere with prescribed profiles of potential temperature and water vapour density. The model is in reasonably good agreement with daytime micrometeorological measurements made at a wet bare site at Agassiz, British Columbia, and a desert site at Pampa de La Joya, Peru. The sensitivity of the mixed-layer model to conditions in the free atmosphere, to the parameters describing the growth of the mixed layer, and to surface roughness lengths, surface hydraulic resistance, and windspeed is examined.     

On using mixed-layer transport parameterizations with radiometric surface temperature for computing regional scale sensible heat flux

Recent mixed-layer formulations for computing large-scale surface energy fluxes under daytime convective conditions do not require the estimation of surface-layer parameters, such as the roughness lengths for momentum and heat. This greatly simplifies approaches using operational satellite measurements of surface temperature for computing the surface energy balance at regional scales because the surface roughness parameters are not well known for many landscapes. The utility of such mixed-layer formulations is tested using data from several recent multidisciplinary field experiments (HAPEX-MOBILHY, FIFE and Monsoon 90). The results indicate that specific mixed-layer formulations adequately simulate surface sensible heat fluxes in the grassland and shrubland sites. However, use of the original values of proposed empirical coefficients for the forested site yield poor results. This is probably due to the fact that the forested site has significantly different surface geometry and associated distribution of temperature among the surface components (especially the relative importance of soil background temperatures) compared to the other sites. Therefore, the relationship between aerodynamic and radiometric surface temperature may have greatly differed between the forested site and the other locations. However, differences in aerodynamic roughness between the experimental sites were not correlated with changes required in the values of the coefficients. Instead, a two-source model which makes the distinction between aerodynamic and radiative temperature is proposed, as a means to determine which surface properties significantly affect the magnitude of the mixed-layer coefficients.     

An advective mixed-layer model for heat and moisture incorporating an analytic expression for moisture entrainment

A slab mixed-layer model with zero-order entrainment for both temperature and humidity is developed in order to examine the relative magnitude of advective and turbulence flux convergence effects. The model formulation provides an analytic function for the ratio of surface-layer to entrainment-layer humidity flux. Model results are compared with measured mixed-layer properties over one day at a coastal location. It is concluded that the model is highly successful at simulating the mixed-layer depth, and mean mixed-layer humidity. It is suggested that a first-order model may be more appropriate for the latter half of the day when the mixed-layer depth is decreasing due to the dominance of advection over vertical turbulence flux convergence.     

On the link between potential evaporation and regional evaporation from a CBL perspective

The relationship between potential evaporation and actual evaporation was first examined by Bouchet (Proc Berkeley Calif Symp IAHS Publ, 62:134–142, 1963) who considered potential evaporation as the consequence of regional evaporation due to atmospheric feedbacks. Using a heuristic approach, he derived a complementary relationship which, despite no real theoretical background, has proven to be very useful in interpreting many experimental data under various climatic conditions. Here, the relationship between actual and potential evaporation is reinterpreted in the context of the development of the convective boundary layer (CBL): first, with a closed-box approach, where the CBL has an impermeable lid; and then with an open system, where air is exchanged between the CBL and its external environment. By applying steady forcing to these systems, it is shown that an equilibrium state is reached, where potential evaporation has a specific equilibrium formulation as a function of two parameters: one representing large-scale advection and the other the feedback effect of regional evaporation on potential evaporation, i.e. a kind of “medium-scale advection”. It is also shown that the original form of Bouchet’s complementary relationship is not verified in the equilibrium state. This analysis leads us to propose a new and more rational approach of the relationship between potential and actual evaporation through the effective surface resistance of the region.     

A three-resistance model of crop and forest evaporation

Summary The evaporation of deep crops such as forests is usually considered in terms of the two-resistance Penman-Monteith model, though this conflates two of the three resistances actually involved, i.e. the canopy resistancer _c between the transpiring leaves and the top of the canopy, and the resistancer _s due to the stomates of the leaves. A review of the literature on these and the aerodynamic resistancer _a (between the crop and the atmosphere) shows how distinctly different they are, and therefore how inappropriate it is to lump any two together.Once the soil has dried substantially,r _s depends approximately onM ^–2, whereM is the fractional available soil moisture.As regards grassed surfaces,r _a is 300/u s m^–1, whereu is the wind speed at 2 m.With 2 Figures     

A regional climate model for the western United States

A numerical approach to modeling climate on a regional scale is developed whereby large-scale weather systems are simulated with a global climate model (GCM) and the GCM output is used to provide the boundary conditions needed for high-resolution mesoscale model simulations over the region of interest. In our example, we use the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) community climate model (CCM1) and the Pennsylvania State University (PSU)/NCAR Mesoscale Model version 4 (MM4) to apply this approach over the western United States (U.S.). The topography, as resolved by the 500-km mesh of the CCM1, is necessarily highly distorted, but with the 60-km mesh of the MM4 the major mountain ranges are distinguished. To obtain adequate and consistent representations of surface climate, we use the same radiation and land surface treatments in both models, the latter being the recently developed Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS). Our analysis emphasizes the simulation at four CCM1 points surrounding Yucca Mountain, NV, because of the need to determine its climatology prior to certification as a high-level nuclear waste repository.We simulate global climate for three years with CCM1/BATS and describe the resulting January surface climatology over the western U.S. The details of the precipitation patterns are unrealistic because of the smooth topography. Selecting five January CCM1 storms that occur over the western U.S. with a total duration of 20 days for simulation with the MM4, we demonstrate that the mesoscale model provides much improved wintertime precipitation patterns. The storms in MM4 are individually much more realistic than those in CCM1. A simple averaging procedure that infers a mean January rainfall climatology calculated from the 20 days of MM4 simulation is much closer to the observed than is the CCM1 climatology. The soil moisture and subsurface drainage simulated over 3–5 day integration periods of MM4, however, remain strongly dependent on the initial CCM1 soil moisture and thus are less realistic than the rainfall. Adequate simulation of surface soil water may require integrations of the mesoscale model over time periods.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. of up to several months or longer.     

A regional spectral nested shallow water equation model

A method to expand meteorological elements in terms of finite double Fourier series in a limited-region and a spectral nested shallow water equation model based upon the method with conformal map projection in rectangular coordinates, have been proposed, and computational stability and efficiency of time integration have been discussed.     

A regional spectral nested multilevel primitive equation model

By means of vertical normal modes a regional nested multilevel primitive equation model can be reduced to sev-eral sets of shallow water equations characterized by various equivalent depths. Therefore, time integration of the model in spectral form can be performed in the manner similar to those used in the spectral nested shallow water equation model case.     

Interannual variability of Mediterranean evaporation and its relation to regional climate

Gridded monthly evaporation data for 1958–2006 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution data set are used to investigate interannual variability of Mediterranean evaporation during cold and hot seasons and its relation to regional atmospheric dynamics, sea surface temperature and atmospheric elements of the hydrological cycle. The first EOF mode of Mediterranean evaporation, explaining more than 50% of its total variance, is characterized by the monopole pattern both in winter and summer. However, despite structural similarity, the EOF-1 of Mediterranean evaporation is affected by different climate signals in cold and hot seasons. During winter the EOF-1 is associated with the East Atlantic teleconnection pattern. In summer, there is indication of tropical influence on the EOF-1 of Mediterranean evaporation (presumably from Asian monsoon). Both in winter and summer, principal components of EOF-1 demonstrate clear interdecadal signals (with a stronger signature in summer) associated with large sea surface temperature anomalies. The results of a sensitivity analysis suggest that in winter both the meridional wind and the vertical gradient of saturation specific humidity (GSSH) near the sea surface contribute to the interdecadal evaporation signal. In summer, however, it is likely that the signal is more related to GSSH. Our analysis did not reveal significant links between the Mediterranean evaporation and the North Atlantic Oscillation in any season. The EOF-2 of evaporation accounts for 20% (11%) of its total variance in winter (in summer). Both in winter and summer the EOF-2 is characterized by a zonal dipole with opposite variations of evaporation in western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea. This mode is associated presumably with smaller scale (i.e., local) effects of atmospheric dynamics. Seasonality of the leading modes of the Mediterranean evaporation is also clearly seen in the character of their links to atmospheric elements of the regional hydrological cycle. In particular, significant links to precipitation in some regions have been found in winter, but not in summer.     

A regional model for studies of atmosphere-ice-ocean interaction in the western Arctic

Summary Asa step in the development of a fully coupled regional model of the atmosphere-ice-ocean system, atmospheric and sea ice models have been adapted to a western Arctic domain centered on the Bering Strait. Lateral boundary conditions derived from operational analyses drive the models through simulations on grids having horizontal resolutions of 21 km and 7 km. Sensitivities to the presence of sea ice are large after only 48 hours, by which time the surface temperatures in the Bering and Chukchi Seas are 10–15°C higher without sea ice than with sea ice. The temperatures, in turn, modify the fields of sea level pressure, surface wind and precipitation. By influencing the surface wind stress through the static static stability, the surface state feeds back to the surface momentum exchange, ice/ocean transport, and the rate of formation of new ice. The results also show a resolution-dependence of the surface winds, precipitation rates and new ice formation rates, particularly in areas in which the coastal configuration and topography are spatially complex. The experiments will be augmented by the implementation of an ocean model on the same grids.With 12 Figures     

WRF模式中微物理和积云参数化方案的对比试验

基于中尺度大气数值模式WRF,检验分析YSU和MYJ两种边界层参数化方案和分辨率分别为1 km（称为USGS）和500 m（称为MODIS）的两类下垫面资料对2014年5月9—12日青岛一次暴雨过程模拟的影响。分析表明, YSU和MYJ方案都能模拟出强降雨带的位置和强度,MYJ试验对大雨TS评分高达0.88,YSU对暴雨TS评分为0.65;和USGS试验相比,MODIS试验提高了暴雨的TS评分,提高率为6.2%,但对大雨仍易空报。YSU、MYJ和MODIS试验较好地模拟了2 m气温、10 m风向。YSU模拟的2 m气温准确率是降雨前优于降雨开始后,MYJ则相反;MODIS试验预报沿海地区气温偏高。和USGS相比,MODIS提高了近地面风速和风向的模拟精度。总体上,所有试验方案对所考虑气象要素的模拟,基本上是内陆站准确率高于沿海站,YSU优于MYJ,MODIS优于USGS。

     

An ensemble strategy for high-resolution regional model forecasts

Summary An ensemble methodology is proposed for very high-resolution regional model Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts. To facilitate a systematic study, the model and the boundary conditions are assumed to be perfect. The generation of perturbations is derived on the basis that the largest errors in precipitation forecasts at very high resolutions arise from miss-specified diabatic heat sources and sinks which feedback erroneously to the grid scale variables in the initial state. This methodology is tested in a Proxy Observed System Simulation Experiment (POSSE) involving an intense cyclone over eastern Canada. The perturbations of wind and temperature in this ensemble strategy are obtained as normalized coefficients of a Combined Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of the difference fields between the control and the diabatically initialized model runs. These perturbations are added to and subtracted from the control initial state to obtain a set of two perturbed initial states. Several such perturbed initial states are obtained from initializing observed rain rates at different times close to the time of the analysis. The results from the POSSE reveal that the Quantitative Precipitation Forecast of the ensemble mean outperforms the control model run. Received August 8, 2000/Revised November 1, 2000     

A high-quality monthly pan evaporation dataset for Australia

A high-quality monthly pan evaporation dataset of 60 stations has been developed for monitoring long-term pan evaporation trends over Australia. The quality control process involved examination of historical station metadata together with an objective test comparing candidate series with neighboring stations. Identified points of discontinuity were located, including installations of bird guards, site relocations and changes in exposure. Appropriate inhomogeneity adjustments have been applied using established methods to produce the first homogeneous pan evaporation dataset for Australia. Analysis of these data reveals that Australian annual mean pan-evaporation shows large interannual variability with no trend over the 1970–2005 period. Previous studies using unadjusted data have shown a decline in pan evaporation, highlighting the importance of checking data for homogeneity before drawing conclusions about long-term trends. A strong inverse correlation is evident between all-Australian means of pan evaporation and rainfall, while a moderate positive correlation is found between pan evaporation and mean temperature. The positive correlations between mean temperature and pan evaporation that exist on the interannual time scales are not reflected in the long-term trends, highlighting that the mechanisms that are responsible for variations on the short and longer time scales are different. This result cautions against the expectation that large changes in potential evaporation are a natural consequence of global warming.     

A simple model of the atmospheric boundary layer; sensitivity to surface evaporation

A simple formulation of the boundary layer is developed for use in large-scale models and other situations where simplicity is required. The formulation is suited for use in models where some resolution is possible within the boundary layer, but where the resolution is insufficient for resolving the detailed boundary-layer structure and overlying capping inversion. Surface fluxes are represented in terms of similarity theory while turbulent diffusivities above the surface layer are formulated in terms of bulk similarity considerations and matching conditions at the top of the surface layer. The boundary-layer depth is expressed in terms of a bulk Richardson number which is modified to include the influence of thermals. Attention is devoted to the interrelationship between predicted boundary-layer growth, the turbulent diffusivity profile, countergradient heat flux and truncation errors.The model predicts growth of the convectively mixed layer reasonably well and is well-behaved in cases of weak surface heat flux and transitions between stable and unstable cases. The evolution of the modelled boundary layer is studied for different ratios of surface evaporation to potential evaporation. Typical variations of surface evaporation result in a much greater variation in boundary-layer depth than that caused by the choice of the boundary-layer depth formulation.     

Dynamics of sea-surface temperature anomalies in the Southern Ocean diagnosed from a 2D mixed-layer model

We analyze the processes responsible for the generation and evolution of sea-surface temperature anomalies observed in the Southern Ocean during a decade based on a 2D diagnostic mixed-layer model in which geostrophic advection is prescribed from altimetry. Anomalous air–sea heat flux is the dominant term of the heat budget over most of the domain, while anomalous Ekman heat fluxes account for 20–40% of the variance in the latitude band 40°?60°S. In the ACC pathway, lateral fluxes of heat associated with anomalous geostrophic currents are a major contributor, dominating downstream of several topographic features, reflecting the influence of eddies and frontal migrations. A significant fraction of the variability of large-scale SST anomalies is correlated with either ENSO or the SAM, each mode contributing roughly equally. The relation between the heat budget terms and these climate modes is investigated, showing in particular that anomalous Ekman and air–sea heat fluxes have a co-operating effect (with regional exceptions), hence the large SST response associated with each mode. It is further shown that ENSO- or SAM-locked anomalous geostrophic currents generate substantial heat fluxes in all three basins with magnitude comparable with that of atmospheric forcings for ENSO, and smaller for the SAM except for limited areas. ENSO-locked forcings generate SST anomalies along the ACC pathway, and advection by mean flows is found to be a non-negligible contribution to the heat budget, exhibiting a wavenumber two zonal structure, characteristic of the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave. By contrast SAM-related forcings are predominantly zonally uniform along the ACC, hence smaller zonal SST gradients and a lesser role of mean advection, except in the SouthWest Atlantic. While modeled SST anomalies are significantly correlated with observations over most of the Southern Ocean, the analysis of the data-model discrepancies suggests that vertical ocean physics may play a significant role in the nonseasonal heat budget, especially in some key regions for mode water formation.     

The behaviour of a mixed-layer model of the convective boundary layer coupled to a big leaf model of surface energy partitioning

Daily mean values of the Priestley-Taylor coefficient, ¯, are derived from a simple model of the daily growth of a convective boundary layer. For a particular control set of driving environmental variables, ¯ is related to the prescribed bulk surface resistance, r_S by 1/¯ = 1/₀ + mr_S for parameters ₀ and m. The dependence of the parameters ₀ and m on weather is explored and a potential use of this linear relation to provide information about regional values of r_S is indicated.     

Climatic change in mixed-layer trajectories over large regions

Summary Using a modified version of the NOAA ARL/ATAD model, a series of over 300,000 mixed-layer back trajectories were calculated in eighteen hour time steps through the period 1948–1985 for seventeen trajectory endpoints in and around the state of Virginia. Results of these trajectory runs were aggregated both seasonally and annually to a spatial grid system covering approximately the eastern two-thirds of the United States. From this were generated plots of trajectory frequencies, residence times and transport times. A principal components analysis was performed on the spatial distribution of the gridded trajectory frequency data. The first principal component is dominated by mixed-layer-flow from the Ohio Valley and the Upper Midwest. A time-series plot of this component indicates a dramatic increase in this northwesterly flow over the study period, especially in the 1950s and early 1960s. A possible link between this observed phenomenon and anthropogenic climate alteration is discussed.With 7 Figures     

An orographically split mixed-layer and the alpine low-level jet

Summary A study is undertaken of the semi-geostrophic flow of shallow water incident tangentially upon a sharp leading edged, slender, orographic feature. The nature of the response is shown to depend upon the Froude number of the upstream flow and upon the orographic shape. In particular it is deduced that the orographically split flow has a laterally asymmetric response, and that for sub-critical upstream settings a jet can develop on one particular side of the orography. Features of an easterly low-level jet observed on the Alpine northside during the ALPEX project are compared with the theory.With 5 FiguresJosef Horn died in an Alpine accident in September 1987.     

A high-resolution 43-year atmospheric hindcast for South America generated with the MPI regional model

An evaluation of the present-day climate in South America simulated by the MPI atmospheric limited area model, REMO, is made. The model dataset was generated by dynamical downscaling from the ECMWF-ERA40 reanalysis and compared to in-situ observations. The model is able to reproduce the low-level summer monsoon circulation but it has some deficiencies in representing the South American Low-Level Jet structure. At upper levels, summer circulation features like the Bolivian High and the associated subtropical jet are well simulated by the model. Sea-level pressure fields are in general well represented by REMO. The model exhibits reasonable skill in representing the general features of the mean seasonal cycle of precipitation. Nevertheless, there is a systematic overestimation of precipitation in both tropical and subtropical regions. Differences between observed and modeled temperature are smaller than 1.5°C over most of the continent, excepting during spring when those differences are quite large. Results also show that the dynamical downscaling performed using REMO introduces some enhancement of the global reanalysis especially in temperature at the tropical regions during the warm season and in precipitation in both the subtropics and extratropics. It is then concluded that REMO can be a useful tool for regional downscaling of global simulations of present and future climates.