DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Assessment of Vertical Mesh Refinement in Concurrently Nested Large-Eddy Simulations Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

Abstract

To facilitate multiscale simulation using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model, vertical mesh refinement for one-way concurrent nested simulation was recently introduced. Grid refinement in the vertical dimension removes the requirement of different grid aspect ratios on the bounding versus the nested domain, such that results from refinement are in the horizontal directions only, and thereby can also reduce numerical errors on the bounding domain arising from large aspect ratios in the presence of complex terrain. Herein, the impacts of vertical grid refinement on the evolving downstream flow in nested large-eddy simulations are evaluated in relation to other model configuration choices, including turbulence subfilter-scale (SFS) stress models, mesh configuration, and alternative methods for calculating several near-surface flow parameters. Although vertical nesting requires coarsening of the vertical grid on the bounding domain, leading to a smaller range of resolved turbulence scales in the nest’s lateral boundary conditions, parameter values within the nested domains are generally only minimally impacted, relative to nesting using the same vertical grid on each domain. Two dynamic SFS models examined herein generally improved the simulated mean wind speed, turbulence kinetic energy, stresses and spectra, on both domains, and accelerated equilibration rates within nested domains, relative to twomore » constant coefficient models. A new method of extrapolating horizontal velocity components to near-surface locations at nested domain lateral boundaries, and a correction to the calculation of deformation elements near the surface, are each shown to slightly alter the mean parameter values, yet only minimally impact equilibration rates within the nested domain.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1580198
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1488779
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-703119
Journal ID: ISSN 0027-0644
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Monthly Weather Review
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Monthly Weather Review Journal Volume: 145 Journal Issue: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-0644
Publisher:
American Meteorological Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 58 GEOSCIENCES; 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 17 WIND ENERGY; Boundary conditions; Large eddy simulations; Model evaluation/performance; Subgrid-scale processes; Vertical coordinates

Citation Formats

Mirocha, Jeffrey D., and Lundquist, Katherine A. Assessment of Vertical Mesh Refinement in Concurrently Nested Large-Eddy Simulations Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1175/MWR-D-16-0347.1.
Mirocha, Jeffrey D., & Lundquist, Katherine A. Assessment of Vertical Mesh Refinement in Concurrently Nested Large-Eddy Simulations Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-16-0347.1
Mirocha, Jeffrey D., and Lundquist, Katherine A. Tue . "Assessment of Vertical Mesh Refinement in Concurrently Nested Large-Eddy Simulations Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model". United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-16-0347.1.
@article{osti_1580198,
title = {Assessment of Vertical Mesh Refinement in Concurrently Nested Large-Eddy Simulations Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model},
author = {Mirocha, Jeffrey D. and Lundquist, Katherine A.},
abstractNote = {To facilitate multiscale simulation using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model, vertical mesh refinement for one-way concurrent nested simulation was recently introduced. Grid refinement in the vertical dimension removes the requirement of different grid aspect ratios on the bounding versus the nested domain, such that results from refinement are in the horizontal directions only, and thereby can also reduce numerical errors on the bounding domain arising from large aspect ratios in the presence of complex terrain. Herein, the impacts of vertical grid refinement on the evolving downstream flow in nested large-eddy simulations are evaluated in relation to other model configuration choices, including turbulence subfilter-scale (SFS) stress models, mesh configuration, and alternative methods for calculating several near-surface flow parameters. Although vertical nesting requires coarsening of the vertical grid on the bounding domain, leading to a smaller range of resolved turbulence scales in the nest’s lateral boundary conditions, parameter values within the nested domains are generally only minimally impacted, relative to nesting using the same vertical grid on each domain. Two dynamic SFS models examined herein generally improved the simulated mean wind speed, turbulence kinetic energy, stresses and spectra, on both domains, and accelerated equilibration rates within nested domains, relative to two constant coefficient models. A new method of extrapolating horizontal velocity components to near-surface locations at nested domain lateral boundaries, and a correction to the calculation of deformation elements near the surface, are each shown to slightly alter the mean parameter values, yet only minimally impact equilibration rates within the nested domain.},
doi = {10.1175/MWR-D-16-0347.1},
journal = {Monthly Weather Review},
number = 8,
volume = 145,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-16-0347.1

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 11 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Figures / Tables:

TABLE 1. TABLE 1.: Computational domain setups, with ∆h and ∆z the horizontal and vertical mesh spacings, α the grid aspect ratio, and nx, ny, and nz the number of grid points in the x, y, and z directions. Values of α and ∆z denote the first grid point above the surface.

Save / Share:

Works referencing / citing this record:

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
journal, May 2019