Convectively Induced Secondary Circulations in Fine-Grid Mesoscale Numerical Weather Prediction Models

AbstractMesoscale numerical weather prediction models using fine-grid [O(1) km] meshes for weather forecasting, environmental assessment, and other applications capture aspects of larger-than-grid-mesh size, convectively induced secondary circulations (CISCs) such as cells and rolls that occur in the convective planetary boundary layer (PBL). However, 1-km grid spacing is too large for the simulation of the interaction of CISCs with smaller-scale turbulence. The existence of CISCs also violates the neglect of horizontal gradients of turbulent quantities in current PBL schemes. Both aspects—poorly resolved CISCs and a violation of the assumptions behind PBL schemes—are examples of what occurs in Wyngaard’s “terra incognita,” where horizontal grid spacing is comparable to the scale of the simulated motions. Thus, model CISCs (M-CISCs) cannot be simulated reliably. This paper describes how the superadiabatic layer in the lower convective PBL together with increased horizontal resolution allow the critical Ra...

[1]  Piotr K. Smolarkiewicz,et al.  On numerical realizability of thermal convection , 2009, J. Comput. Phys..

[2]  Margaret A. LeMone,et al.  Modulation of Turbulence Energy by Longitudinal Rolls in an Unstable Planetary Boundary Layer , 1976 .

[3]  H. Niino,et al.  Development of an Improved Turbulence Closure Model for the Atmospheric Boundary Layer , 2009 .

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

[5]  H. Jonker,et al.  Large-Eddy Simulation: How Large is Large Enough? , 2004 .

[6]  M. Lemone,et al.  Direct Testing of a Three-Dimensional Model of the Planetary Boundary Layer Against Experimental Data , 1978 .

[7]  J. W. Glendening.  Lineal eddy features under strong shear conditions , 1996 .

[8]  J. Wyngaard.  Toward Numerical Modeling in the “Terra Incognita” , 2004 .

[9]  J. Dudhia,et al.  A New Vertical Diffusion Package with an Explicit Treatment of Entrainment Processes , 2006 .

[10]  Margaret A. LeMone,et al.  The Structure and Dynamics of Horizontal Roll Vortices in the Planetary Boundary Layer , 1973 .

[11]  G. Sommeria,et al.  Three-Dimensional Simulation of Turbulent Processes in an Undisturbed Trade Wind Boundary Layer , 1976 .

[12]  R. Kropfli,et al.  Persistent Horizontal Rolls in the Urban Mixed Layer as Revealed by Dual-Doppler Radar , 1978 .

[13]  J. Dudhia,et al.  Simulating the IHOP_2002 fair-weather CBL with the WRF-ARW-Noah modeling system. Part II: Structures from a few kilometers to 100 km across , 2010 .

[14]  Elie Bou-Zeid,et al.  Transition and equilibration of neutral atmospheric boundary layer flow in one-way nested large-eddy simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model , 2013 .

[15]  G. Young,et al.  ROLLS, STREETS, WAVES, AND MORE: A Review of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Structures in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer , 2002 .

[16]  E. Fedorovich,et al.  A Case Study of Convective Boundary Layer Development during IHOP_2002: Numerical Simulations Compared to Observations , 2008 .

[17]  Lord Rayleigh,et al.  LIX. On convection currents in a horizontal layer of fluid, when the higher temperature is on the under side , 1916 .

[18]  G. Powers,et al.  A Description of the Advanced Research WRF Version 3 , 2008 .

[19]  A. Pier Siebesma,et al.  Stochastic parameterization of shallow cumulus convection estimated from high-resolution model data , 2013 .

[20]  G. Bryan.  Statistical convergence in simulated moist absolutely unstable layers , 2005 .

[21]  P. Sullivan,et al.  A Comparison of Shear- and Buoyancy-Driven Planetary Boundary Layer Flows , 1994 .

[22]  J. Lundquist,et al.  Implementation of a Nonlinear Subfilter Turbulence Stress Model for Large-Eddy Simulation in the Advanced Research WRF Model , 2010 .

[23]  I. Troen,et al.  A simple model of the atmospheric boundary layer; sensitivity to surface evaporation , 1986 .

[24]  Fei Chen,et al.  Formation of horizontal convective rolls in urban areas , 2008 .

[25]  James W. Wilson,et al.  Non-supercell Tornadoes , 1989 .

[26]  Tammy M. Weckwerth,et al.  Horizontal Convective Rolls: Determining the Environmental Conditions Supporting their Existence and Characteristics , 1997 .

[27]  J. Pleim.  A Combined Local and Nonlocal Closure Model for the Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Part II: Application and Evaluation in a Mesoscale Meteorological Model , 2007 .

[28]  E. Patton,et al.  The Effect of Mesh Resolution on Convective Boundary Layer Statistics and Structures Generated by Large-Eddy Simulation , 2011 .

[29]  James Correia,et al.  A Feasibility Study for Probabilistic Convection Initiation Forecasts Based on Explicit , 2012 .

[30]  Song-You Hong,et al.  Analysis of Resolved and Parameterized Vertical Transports in Convective Boundary Layers at Gray-Zone Resolutions , 2013 .

[31]  J. Dudhia,et al.  Coupling an Advanced Land Surface–Hydrology Model with the Penn State–NCAR MM5 Modeling System. Part I: Model Implementation and Sensitivity , 2001 .

[32]  J. Deardorff,et al.  Preliminary Results from Numerical Integrations of the Unstable Planetary Boundary Layer , 1970 .

[33]  T. W. Horst,et al.  An Observational Study of the Evolution of Horizontal Convective Rolls , 1999 .

[34]  Jimy Dudhia,et al.  Objectively Determined Fair-Weather CBL Depths in the ARW-WRF Model and Their Comparison to CASES-97 Observations , 2013 .

[35]  J. Deardorff.  Numerical Investigation of Neutral and Unstable Planetary Boundary Layers , 1972 .

[36]  F. Chow,et al.  The Convective Boundary Layer in the Terra Incognita , 2014 .

[37]  D. Byun,et al.  Review of the Governing Equations, Computational Algorithms, and Other Components of the Models-3 Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Modeling System , 2006 .

[38]  G. Mellor,et al.  Development of a turbulence closure model for geophysical fluid problems , 1982 .

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

[40]  R. Beare.  A Length Scale Defining Partially-Resolved Boundary-Layer Turbulence Simulations , 2014, Boundary-Layer Meteorology.

[41]  J. Wyngaard.  Turbulence in the Atmosphere: Contents , 2010 .

[42]  R. Grossman.  An analysis of vertical velocity spectra obtained in the bomex fair-weather, trade-wind boundary layer , 1982 .

[43]  P. Duynkerke,et al.  Large Eddy Simulation of Trade Wind Cumulus Clouds. , 1993 .

[44]  J. Dudhia,et al.  Coupling an Advanced Land Surface–Hydrology Model with the Penn State–NCAR MM5 Modeling System. Part II: Preliminary Model Validation , 2001 .

[45]  Elie Bou-Zeid,et al.  Implementation and Evaluation of Dynamic Subfilter-Scale Stress Models for Large-Eddy Simulation Using WRF* , 2012 .

[46]  V. Masson,et al.  A Diagnostic for Evaluating the Representation of Turbulence in Atmospheric Models at the Kilometric Scale , 2011 .

[47]  M. Xue,et al.  A high-resolution modeling study of the 24 May 2002 dryline case during IHOP. part I: Numerical simulation and general evolution of the dryline and convection , 2006 .

[48]  J. Gerring.  A case study , 2011, Technology and Society.

[49]  Steven E. Koch,et al.  An Overview of the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) and Some Preliminary Highlights , 2004 .