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A new vertical grid nesting capability in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model

Journal Article · · Monthly Weather Review
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Mesoscale atmospheric models are increasingly used for high-resolution (<3 km) simulations to better resolve smaller-scale flow details. Increased resolution is achieved using mesh refinement via grid nesting, a procedure where multiple computational domains are integrated either concurrently or in series. A constraint in the concurrent nesting framework offered by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is that mesh refinement is restricted to the horizontal dimensions. This limitation prevents control of the grid aspect ratio, leading to numerical errors due to poor grid quality and preventing grid optimization. Here, a procedure permitting vertical nesting for one-way concurrent simulation is developed and validated through idealized cases. The benefits of vertical nesting are demonstrated using both mesoscale and large-eddy simulations (LES). Mesoscale simulations of the Terrain-Induced Rotor Experiment (T-REX) show that vertical grid nesting can alleviate numerical errors due to large aspect ratios on coarse grids, while allowing for higher vertical resolution on fine grids. Furthermore, the coarsening of the parent domain does not result in a significant loss of accuracy on the nested domain. LES of neutral boundary layer flow shows that, by permitting optimal grid aspect ratios on both parent and nested domains, use of vertical nesting yields improved agreement with the theoretical logarithmic velocity profile on both domains. Lastly, vertical grid nesting in WRF opens the path forward for multiscale simulations, allowing more accurate simulations spanning a wider range of scales than previously possible.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1341983
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL--681237
Journal Information:
Monthly Weather Review, Journal Name: Monthly Weather Review Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 144; ISSN 0027-0644
Publisher:
American Meteorological SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Vertically nested LES for high-resolution simulation of the surface layer in PALM (version 5.0) other January 2019
Crossing Multiple Gray Zones in the Transition from Mesoscale to Microscale Simulation over Complex Terrain journal May 2019
Crossing multiple gray zones in the transition from mesoscale to microscale simulation over complex terrain text January 2019
Long-term simulation of the boundary layer flow over the double-ridge site during the Perdigão 2017 field campaign journal January 2019
Vertically nested LES for high-resolution simulation of the surface layer in PALM (version 5.0) journal January 2019
Spatial variability in snow precipitation and accumulation in COSMO–WRF simulations and radar estimations over complex terrain journal January 2018
Spatial variability in snow precipitation and accumulation in COSMO–WRF simulations and radar estimations over complex terrain text January 2018
Vertically nested LES for high-resolution simulation of the surface layer in PALM (version 5.0) text January 2019

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Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Boundary conditions
Large eddy simulations
Mesoscale models
Models and modeling
Numerical analysis/modeling
Numerical weather prediction/forecasting
Vertical coordinates