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Title: On the Realism of the Rain Microphysics Representation of a Squall Line in the WRF Model. Part II: Sensitivity Studies on the Rain Drop Size Distributions

Journal Article · · Monthly Weather Review
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [1]
  1. Univ. Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand (France)
  2. Univ. of Leicester (United Kingdom); Univ. of Cologne (Germany)
  3. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)
  4. Univ. of Leicester (United Kingdom)
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A comparison between retrieved properties of the rain drop size distributions (DSDs) from multifrequency cloud radar observations and WRF Model results using either the Morrison or the Thompson bulk microphysics scheme is performed in order to evaluate the model’s ability to predict the rain microphysics. This comparison reveals discrepancies in the vertical profile of the rain DSDs for the stratiform region of the squall-line system observed on 12 June 2011 over Oklahoma. Based on numerical sensitivity analyses, this study addresses the bias at the top of the rain layer and the vertical evolution of the DSD properties (i.e., of Dm and N$$^{*}_{0}$$). In this way, the Thompson scheme is used to explore the sensitivity to the melting process. Moreover, using the Thompson and Morrison schemes, the sensitivity of the DSD vertical evolution to different breakup and self-collection parameterizations is studied. Results show that the DSDs are strongly dependent on the representation of the melting process in the Thompson scheme. In the Morrison scheme, the simulations with more efficient breakup reproduce the DSD properties with better fidelity. Here, this study highlights how the inaccuracies in simulated Dm and N$$^{*}_{0}$$ for both microphysics schemes can impact the evaporation rate, which is systematically underestimated in the model.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Leicester (United Kingdom)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); Evaluation de la Modélisation microphysique des Précipitations à l’aide d’Observations Radars Multifréquences (EMPORiuM); WRF-DESCAM; French CNRS-INSU LEFE-IMAGO
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0017967
OSTI ID:
1594471
Journal Information:
Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 147, Issue 8; ISSN 0027-0644
Publisher:
American Meteorological SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 12 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (8)

TABLE 1(p. 36)table TABLE 1
FIG. 1(p. 38)figure FIG. 1
FIG. 2(p. 39)figure FIG. 2
FIG. 3(p. 40)figure FIG. 3
FIG. 4(p. 41)figure FIG. 4
FIG. 5(p. 42)figure FIG. 5
FIG. 6(p. 43)figure FIG. 6
FIG. 7(p. 44)figure FIG. 7

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Precipitation
Squall lines
Cloud microphysics
Drop size distribution
Radars/Radar observations
Cloud resolving models