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Title: Spatial Variation of Soil Type and Soil Moisture in the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System

Abstract

Soil characteristics (texture and moisture) are typically assumed to be initially constant when performing simulations with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Soil texture is spatially homogeneous and time-independent, while soil moisture is often spatially homogeneous initially, but time-dependent. This report discusses the conversion of a global data set of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) soil types to RAMS soil texture and the subsequent modifications required in RAMS to ingest this information. Spatial variations in initial soil moisture obtained from the National Center for Environmental Predictions (NCEP) large-scale models are also introduced. Comparisons involving simulations over the southeastern United States for two different time periods, one during warmer, more humid summer conditions, and one during cooler, dryer winter conditions, reveals differences in surface conditions related to increases or decreases in near-surface atmospheric moisture con tent as a result of different soil properties. Three separate simulation types were considered. The base case assumed spatially homogeneous soil texture and initial soil moisture. The second case assumed variable soil texture and constant initial soil moisture, while the third case allowed for both variable soil texture and initial soil moisture. The simulation domain was further divided into four geographically distinct regions. It is concludedmore » there is a more dramatic impact on thermodynamic variables (surface temperature and dewpoint) than on surface winds, and a more pronounced variability in results during the summer period. While no obvious trends in surface winds or dewpoint temperature were found relative to observations covering all regions and times, improvement in surface temperatures in most regions and time periods was generally seen with the incorporation of variable soil texture and initial soil moisture.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
782676
Report Number(s):
WSRC-TR-2001-00119
TRN: AH200126%%92
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-96SR18500
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 27 Jun 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; FAO; MODIFICATIONS; MOISTURE; SIMULATION; SOILS; TEXTURE; THERMODYNAMICS

Citation Formats

Buckley, R. Spatial Variation of Soil Type and Soil Moisture in the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System. United States: N. p., 2001. Web. doi:10.2172/782676.
Buckley, R. Spatial Variation of Soil Type and Soil Moisture in the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/782676
Buckley, R. 2001. "Spatial Variation of Soil Type and Soil Moisture in the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/782676. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/782676.
@article{osti_782676,
title = {Spatial Variation of Soil Type and Soil Moisture in the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System},
author = {Buckley, R},
abstractNote = {Soil characteristics (texture and moisture) are typically assumed to be initially constant when performing simulations with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Soil texture is spatially homogeneous and time-independent, while soil moisture is often spatially homogeneous initially, but time-dependent. This report discusses the conversion of a global data set of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) soil types to RAMS soil texture and the subsequent modifications required in RAMS to ingest this information. Spatial variations in initial soil moisture obtained from the National Center for Environmental Predictions (NCEP) large-scale models are also introduced. Comparisons involving simulations over the southeastern United States for two different time periods, one during warmer, more humid summer conditions, and one during cooler, dryer winter conditions, reveals differences in surface conditions related to increases or decreases in near-surface atmospheric moisture con tent as a result of different soil properties. Three separate simulation types were considered. The base case assumed spatially homogeneous soil texture and initial soil moisture. The second case assumed variable soil texture and constant initial soil moisture, while the third case allowed for both variable soil texture and initial soil moisture. The simulation domain was further divided into four geographically distinct regions. It is concluded there is a more dramatic impact on thermodynamic variables (surface temperature and dewpoint) than on surface winds, and a more pronounced variability in results during the summer period. While no obvious trends in surface winds or dewpoint temperature were found relative to observations covering all regions and times, improvement in surface temperatures in most regions and time periods was generally seen with the incorporation of variable soil texture and initial soil moisture.},
doi = {10.2172/782676},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/782676}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2001},
month = {Wed Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2001}
}