Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes
Abstract The ability of numerical weather prediction models to represent and forecast mesoscale structure accurately in extratropical cyclones depends on the resolution and dynamical formulation of the model and the way in which the subgrid‐scale processes are parametrized. This study investigates t...
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crwiley:10.1256/qj.01.171 2024-09-15T18:23:32+00:00 Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes Forbes, Richard M. Clark, Peter A. 2003 http://dx.doi.org/10.1256/qj.01.171 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1256%2Fqj.01.171 https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1256/qj.01.171 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society volume 129, issue 589, page 1123-1148 ISSN 0035-9009 1477-870X journal-article 2003 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1256/qj.01.171 2024-08-09T04:32:08Z Abstract The ability of numerical weather prediction models to represent and forecast mesoscale structure accurately in extratropical cyclones depends on the resolution and dynamical formulation of the model and the way in which the subgrid‐scale processes are parametrized. This study investigates the sensitivity of extratropical cyclone forecasts to aspects of the microphysical parametrization in a mesoscale version of the Met Office Unified Model. Case‐studies of rapidly developing cyclones over the North Atlantic Ocean from the Fronts and Atlantic Storm‐Track Experiment period are used to study the forecast sensitivity to the ice sublimation and deposition rate, and the ice terminal fall speed. Modifying these parameters not only changes the balance between ice content, liquid‐water content and water vapour in the model but also affects the mesoscale dynamics of the frontal rain bands associated with the cyclone. In particular, the cooling due to sublimating ice beneath slantwise ascending frontal updraughts has a significant effect on the dynamics of the front and on the development of further post‐frontal rain bands. The study highlights the need for a microphysical parametrization that produces an appropriate cooling profile from sublimating ice particles for the forecasting of mesoscale structure in extratropical cyclones. © Crown copyright, 2003. Royal Meteorological Society Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Wiley Online Library Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 129 589 1123 1148 |
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English |
description |
Abstract The ability of numerical weather prediction models to represent and forecast mesoscale structure accurately in extratropical cyclones depends on the resolution and dynamical formulation of the model and the way in which the subgrid‐scale processes are parametrized. This study investigates the sensitivity of extratropical cyclone forecasts to aspects of the microphysical parametrization in a mesoscale version of the Met Office Unified Model. Case‐studies of rapidly developing cyclones over the North Atlantic Ocean from the Fronts and Atlantic Storm‐Track Experiment period are used to study the forecast sensitivity to the ice sublimation and deposition rate, and the ice terminal fall speed. Modifying these parameters not only changes the balance between ice content, liquid‐water content and water vapour in the model but also affects the mesoscale dynamics of the frontal rain bands associated with the cyclone. In particular, the cooling due to sublimating ice beneath slantwise ascending frontal updraughts has a significant effect on the dynamics of the front and on the development of further post‐frontal rain bands. The study highlights the need for a microphysical parametrization that produces an appropriate cooling profile from sublimating ice particles for the forecasting of mesoscale structure in extratropical cyclones. © Crown copyright, 2003. Royal Meteorological Society |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Forbes, Richard M. Clark, Peter A. |
spellingShingle |
Forbes, Richard M. Clark, Peter A. Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes |
author_facet |
Forbes, Richard M. Clark, Peter A. |
author_sort |
Forbes, Richard M. |
title |
Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes |
title_short |
Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes |
title_full |
Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes |
title_fullStr |
Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes |
title_sort |
sensitivity of extratropical cyclone mesoscale structure to the parametrization of ice microphysical processes |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1256/qj.01.171 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1256%2Fqj.01.171 https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1256/qj.01.171 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_source |
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society volume 129, issue 589, page 1123-1148 ISSN 0035-9009 1477-870X |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1256/qj.01.171 |
container_title |
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society |
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129 |
container_issue |
589 |
container_start_page |
1123 |
op_container_end_page |
1148 |
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1810463756593922048 |