Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation
In this article, we evaluate the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological model for stable conditions in clear skies with low wind speeds. Three contrasting terrains with snow-covered surfaces are considered, namely Cabauw (Netherlands, snow over grass), Sodankylä (Finland, sn...
Published in: | Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2015
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Online Access: | https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/e68b95e9-0b65-4c4b-b623-ce4e377209d6 https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2513 |
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ftuhipublicatio:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/e68b95e9-0b65-4c4b-b623-ce4e377209d6 2024-02-04T09:56:04+01:00 Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation Sterk, H. A. M. Steeneveld, G. J. Vihma, T. Anderson, P. S. Bosveld, F. C. Holtslag, A. A. M. 2015-07 https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/e68b95e9-0b65-4c4b-b623-ce4e377209d6 https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2513 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Sterk , H A M , Steeneveld , G J , Vihma , T , Anderson , P S , Bosveld , F C & Holtslag , A A M 2015 , ' Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation ' , Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society , vol. 141 , no. 691 , pp. 2165-2184 . https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2513 stable boundary layer single-column model WRF model evaluation snow surface low wind speeds 7ref2021 article 2015 ftuhipublicatio https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2513 2024-01-11T23:21:10Z In this article, we evaluate the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological model for stable conditions in clear skies with low wind speeds. Three contrasting terrains with snow-covered surfaces are considered, namely Cabauw (Netherlands, snow over grass), Sodankylä (Finland, snow over a needle-leaf forest) and Halley (Antarctica, snow over an ice shelf). We used the full three-dimensional (3D) model and the single-column versions of the WRF model. The single-column model (SCM) was driven by realistic forcings of the WRF–3D field. Several sets of SCM forcings were tested: A, no advection; B, varying geostrophic wind in time; C, momentum advection in addition to B; D, temperature and moisture advection in addition to C; E, forcing the SCM field to the 3D field above a threshold height. The WRF–3D model produced good results overall for wind speed, but the near-surface temperatures and specific humidity were overestimated for Cabauw and Sodankylä and underestimated for Halley. Prescribing advection for momentum, temperature and moisture gave the best results for the WRF–SCM and simulations deviated strongly from reality without advection. Nudging the SCM field to the 3D field above a threshold height led to an unrealistic behaviour of the variables below this height and is not recommended. Detailed prescription of the surface characteristics, e.g. adjusting the snow cover and vegetation fraction, improved the 2 m temperature simulation. For all three sites, the simulated temperature and moisture inversion were underestimated, though this improved when prescribing advection. Overall, in clear-sky conditions, the stable boundary layer over snow and ice can be modelled to a good approximation if all processes are taken into account at high resolution and if land surface properties are carefully prescribed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Sodankylä University of the Highlands and Islands: Research Database of UHI Sodankylä ENVELOPE(26.600,26.600,67.417,67.417) Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 141 691 2165 2184 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of the Highlands and Islands: Research Database of UHI |
op_collection_id |
ftuhipublicatio |
language |
English |
topic |
stable boundary layer single-column model WRF model evaluation snow surface low wind speeds 7ref2021 |
spellingShingle |
stable boundary layer single-column model WRF model evaluation snow surface low wind speeds 7ref2021 Sterk, H. A. M. Steeneveld, G. J. Vihma, T. Anderson, P. S. Bosveld, F. C. Holtslag, A. A. M. Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation |
topic_facet |
stable boundary layer single-column model WRF model evaluation snow surface low wind speeds 7ref2021 |
description |
In this article, we evaluate the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological model for stable conditions in clear skies with low wind speeds. Three contrasting terrains with snow-covered surfaces are considered, namely Cabauw (Netherlands, snow over grass), Sodankylä (Finland, snow over a needle-leaf forest) and Halley (Antarctica, snow over an ice shelf). We used the full three-dimensional (3D) model and the single-column versions of the WRF model. The single-column model (SCM) was driven by realistic forcings of the WRF–3D field. Several sets of SCM forcings were tested: A, no advection; B, varying geostrophic wind in time; C, momentum advection in addition to B; D, temperature and moisture advection in addition to C; E, forcing the SCM field to the 3D field above a threshold height. The WRF–3D model produced good results overall for wind speed, but the near-surface temperatures and specific humidity were overestimated for Cabauw and Sodankylä and underestimated for Halley. Prescribing advection for momentum, temperature and moisture gave the best results for the WRF–SCM and simulations deviated strongly from reality without advection. Nudging the SCM field to the 3D field above a threshold height led to an unrealistic behaviour of the variables below this height and is not recommended. Detailed prescription of the surface characteristics, e.g. adjusting the snow cover and vegetation fraction, improved the 2 m temperature simulation. For all three sites, the simulated temperature and moisture inversion were underestimated, though this improved when prescribing advection. Overall, in clear-sky conditions, the stable boundary layer over snow and ice can be modelled to a good approximation if all processes are taken into account at high resolution and if land surface properties are carefully prescribed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sterk, H. A. M. Steeneveld, G. J. Vihma, T. Anderson, P. S. Bosveld, F. C. Holtslag, A. A. M. |
author_facet |
Sterk, H. A. M. Steeneveld, G. J. Vihma, T. Anderson, P. S. Bosveld, F. C. Holtslag, A. A. M. |
author_sort |
Sterk, H. A. M. |
title |
Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation |
title_short |
Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation |
title_full |
Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation |
title_fullStr |
Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation |
title_sort |
clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. part 1: wrf model evaluation |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/e68b95e9-0b65-4c4b-b623-ce4e377209d6 https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2513 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(26.600,26.600,67.417,67.417) |
geographic |
Sodankylä |
geographic_facet |
Sodankylä |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Sodankylä |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Sodankylä |
op_source |
Sterk , H A M , Steeneveld , G J , Vihma , T , Anderson , P S , Bosveld , F C & Holtslag , A A M 2015 , ' Clear-sky stable boundary layers with low winds over snow-covered surfaces. Part 1: WRF model evaluation ' , Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society , vol. 141 , no. 691 , pp. 2165-2184 . https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2513 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2513 |
container_title |
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society |
container_volume |
141 |
container_issue |
691 |
container_start_page |
2165 |
op_container_end_page |
2184 |
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1789960452425383936 |