Intercomparison of Single-Column Numerical Models for the Prediction of Radiation Fog

Abstract The short-term forecasting of fog is a difficult issue that can have a large societal impact. Radiation fog appears in the surface boundary layer, and its evolution is driven by the interactions between the surface and lower layers of the atmosphere. Current NWP models poorly forecast the life cycle of fog, and improved NWP models are needed before improving the prediction of fog. Six numerical model simulations are compared for two cases from the Paris-Charles de Gaulle (Paris-CdG) fog field experiment. This intercomparison includes both operational and research models, which have significantly different vertical resolutions and physical parameterizations. The main goal of this intercomparison is to identify the capabilities of the various models to forecast fog accurately. An attempt is made to identify the main reasons behind the differences among the various models. This intercomparison reveals that considerable differences among models exist in the surface boundary layer before the fog onset...

[1]  Larry Mahrt,et al.  Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layers , 1999 .

[2]  Véronique Ducrocq,et al.  The Meso-NH Atmospheric Simulation System. Part I: adiabatic formulation and control simulations , 1997 .

[3]  Luc Musson-Genon.  Numerical Simulation of a Fog Event with a One-Dimensional Boundary Layer Model , 1987 .

[4]  D. Lenschow,et al.  The stably stratified boundary layer over the great plains , 1988 .

[5]  Thierry Bergot,et al.  Numerical Forecasting of Radiation Fog. Part I: Numerical Model and Sensitivity Tests , 1994 .

[6]  ALPTHERM -A PC BASED MODEL FOR ATMOSPHERIC CONVECTION OVER COMPLEX TOPOGRAPHY , 1994 .

[7]  T. W. Horst,et al.  Nocturnal drainage flow on simple slopes , 1986 .

[8]  G. Grell,et al.  Mesoscale Weather Prediction with the RUC Hybrid Isentropic–Terrain-Following Coordinate Model , 2004 .

[9]  Dominique Carrer,et al.  Improved Site-Specific Numerical Prediction of Fog and Low Clouds: A Feasibility Study , 2005 .

[10]  J. D. Tarpley,et al.  Implementation of Noah land surface model advances in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction operational mesoscale Eta model , 2003 .

[11]  K. Mitchell,et al.  Impact of Atmospheric Surface-layer Parameterizations in the new Land-surface Scheme of the NCEP Mesoscale Eta Model , 1997 .

[12]  C. Estournel,et al.  A new parameterization of eddy diffusivities for nocturnal boundary-layer modeling , 1987 .

[13]  E. Terradellas,et al.  Analysis of oscillations in the stable atmospheric boundary layer using wavelet methods , 2005 .

[14]  D. Lenschow,et al.  The stably stratified boundary layer over the great plains , 1988 .

[15]  Jean-Christophe Calvet,et al.  Inclusion of a Third Soil Layer in a Land Surface Scheme Using the Force–Restore Method , 1999 .

[16]  J. Redelsperger,et al.  A turbulence scheme allowing for mesoscale and large‐eddy simulations , 2000 .

[17]  J. Morcrette.  Radiation and cloud radiative properties in the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts forecasting system , 1991 .

[18]  P. Lacarrére,et al.  Parameterization of Orography-Induced Turbulence in a Mesobeta--Scale Model , 1989 .

[19]  S. Planton,et al.  A Simple Parameterization of Land Surface Processes for Meteorological Models , 1989 .

[20]  P. Duynkerke,et al.  Radiation Fog: A Comparison of Model Simulation with Detailed Observations , 1991 .

[21]  L. Mahrt.  Vertical Structure and Turbulence in the Very Stable Boundary Layer , 1985 .