The role of precipitation size distributions in km-scale NWP simulations of intense precipitation: Evaluation of cloud properties and surface precipitation
Journal Article
·
· Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
We investigate the sensitivity of simulated cloud properties and surface precipitation to assumptions regarding the size distributions of the precipitating hydrometeors in a one-moment bulk microphysics scheme. Three sensitivity experiments were applied to two composites of 15 convective and 15 frontal stratiform intense precipitation events observed in a coastal midlatitude region (Belgium), which were evaluated against satellite-retrieved cloud properties and radar-rain-gauge derived surface precipitation. It is found that the cloud optical thickness distribution was well captured by all experiments, although a significant underestimation of cloudiness occurred in the convective composite. The cloud-top-pressure distribution was improved most by more realistic snow size distributions (including a temperature-dependent intercept parameter and non-spherical snow for the calculation of the slope parameter), due to increased snow depositional growth at high altitudes. Surface precipitation was far less sensitive to whether graupel or hail was chosen as the rimed ice species, as compared to previous idealized experiments. This smaller difference in sensitivity could be explained by the stronger updraught velocities and higher freezing levels in the idealized experiments compared to typical coastal midlatitude environmental conditions.
- Research Organization:
- BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY (BNL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 1044748
- Report Number(s):
- BNL--97296-2012-JA; KP1701000
- Journal Information:
- Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Journal Name: Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society Vol. online; ISSN 0035-9009; ISSN QJRMAM
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of moist processes during intense precipitation in km-scale NWP models using remote sensing and in-situ data: Impact of microphysics size distribution assumptions
Simulating a Mesoscale Convective System Using WRF with a New Spectral Bin Microphysics: Part 1: Hail vs Graupel
Impacts of Microphysical Scheme on Convective and Stratiform Characteristics in Two High Precipitation Squall Line Events
Journal Article
·
Mon Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 2011
· Atmospheric Research
·
OSTI ID:1020903
Simulating a Mesoscale Convective System Using WRF with a New Spectral Bin Microphysics: Part 1: Hail vs Graupel
Journal Article
·
Thu Dec 26 23:00:00 EST 2019
· Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
·
OSTI ID:1615016
Impacts of Microphysical Scheme on Convective and Stratiform Characteristics in Two High Precipitation Squall Line Events
Journal Article
·
Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 EDT 2013
· Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), 118(19):11,119–11,135
·
OSTI ID:1118110