Single-Column Model Intercomparison for a Stably Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer

• Published in: Boundary-Layer Meteorology
• Main Authors: Cuxart, J., Holtslag, A.A.M., Beare, R.J., Bazile, E., Beljaars, A., Cheng, A., Conangla, L., Ek, M.B., Freedman, F., Hamdi, R., Kerstein, A., Kitagawa, H., Lenderink, G., Lewellen, D., Mailhot, J., Mauritsen, T., Perov, V., Schayes, G., Steeneveld, G.J., Svensson, G., Taylor, P., Weng, W., Wunsch, S., Xu, K.M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: diffusion; dynamics; formulation; large-eddy simulation; parameterization; part i; scheme; surfaces; system; turbulence closure-model; Arctic
• Online Access: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/single-column-model-intercomparison-for-a-stably-stratified-atmos; 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