Single-column model intercomparison for a stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer

• Published in: Boundary-Layer Meteorology
• Main Authors: Cuxart, J, Holtslag, AAM, Beare, RJ, Bazile, E, Beljaars, A, Cheng, A, Conangla, L, Ek, M, Freedman, F, Hamdi, R, Kerstein, A, Kitagawa, H, Lenderink, G, Lewellen, D, Mailhot, J, Mauritsen, T, Perov, V, Schayes, Guy, Steeneveld, GJ, Svensson, G, Taylor, P, Weng, W, Wunsch, S, Xu, KM
• Other Authors: UCL
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2006
• Subjects: GABLS; intercomparison; mixing coefficients; single-column models; stably stratified flows; turbulence parameterizations; Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/38399; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-005-3780-1

The parameterization of the stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer is a difficult issue, having a significant impact on medium-range weather forecasts and climate integrations. To pursue this further, a moderately stratified Arctic case is simulated by nineteen single-column turbulence schemes. Statistics from a large-eddy simulation intercomparison made for the same case by eleven different models are used as a guiding reference. The single-column parameterizations include research and operational schemes from major forecast and climate research centres. Results from first-order schemes, a large number of turbulence kinetic energy closures, and other models were used. There is a large spread in the results; in general, the operational schemes mix over a deeper layer than the research schemes, and the turbulence kinetic energy and other higher-order closures give results closer to the statistics obtained from the large-eddy simulations. The sensitivities of the schemes to the parameters of their turbulence closures are partially explored.