Urban-rural differences in near-surface air temperature as resolved by the Central Europe Refined analysis (CER): sensitivity to planetary boundary layer schemes and urban canopy models

Abstract This paper examines summer- and wintertime variations of the surface and near-surface urban heat island (UHI) for the Phoenix metropolitan area using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), near-surface meteorological observations, and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model during a 31-day summer- and a 31-day wintertime period. The surface UHI (defined based on the urban–rural land surface temperature difference) is found to be higher at night and during the warm season. On the other hand, the morning surface UHI is low and frequently exhibits an urban cool island that increases during the summertime period. Similarly, the near-surface UHI (defined based on the urban–rural 2-m air temperature difference) is higher at night and during summertime. On the other hand, the daytime near-surface UHI is low but rarely exhibits an urban cool island. To evaluate the WRF Model’s ability to reproduce the diurnal cycle of near-surface meteorology and surface skin temperature, two WRF Model experiments (one using the Bougeault and Lacarrere turbulent scheme and one with the Mellor–Yamada–Janjić turbulent parameterization) at high spatial resolution (1-km horizontal grid spacing) are conducted for each 31-day period. Modeled results show that the WRF Model (coupled to the Noah-MP land surface model) tends to underestimate to some extent surface skin temperature during daytime and overestimate nighttime values during the wintertime period. In the same way, the WRF Model tends to accurately reproduce the diurnal cycle of near-surface air temperature, including maximum and minimum temperatures, and wind speed during summertime, but notably overestimates nighttime near-surface air temperature during wintertime. This nighttime overestimation is especially remarkable with the Bougeault and Lacarrere turbulent scheme for both urban and rural areas.

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Addition of Multilayer Urban Canopy Models to a Nonlocal Planetary Boundary Layer Parameterization and Evaluation Using Ideal and Real Cases

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/jamc-d-19-0142.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (8) ◽

pp. 1369-1392

Author(s):

Eric A. Hendricks ◽

Jason C. Knievel ◽

Yi Wang

Keyword(s):

Boundary Layer ◽

Planetary Boundary Layer ◽

Surface Wind ◽

Urban Canopy ◽

Building Energy ◽

Energy Model ◽

Ideal Case ◽

Near Surface ◽

Pbl Parameterization ◽

The Ideal

AbstractThe multilayer urban canopy models (UCMs) building effect parameterization (BEP) and BEP + building energy model (BEM; a building energy model integrated in BEP) are added to the Yonsei University (YSU) planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The additions allow for the first analysis of the detailed effects of buildings on the urban boundary layer in a nonlocal closure scheme. The modified YSU PBL parameterization is compared with the other 1.5-order local PBL parameterizations that predict turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), Mellor–Yamada–Janjić and Bougeault–Lacarerre, using both ideal and real cases. The ideal-case evaluation confirms that BEP and BEP+BEM produce the expected results in the YSU PBL parameterization because the simulations are qualitatively similar to the TKE-based PBL parameterizations in which the multilayer UCMs have long existed. The modified YSU PBL parameterization is further evaluated for a real case. Similar to the ideal case, there are larger differences among the different UCMs (simple bulk scheme, BEP, and BEP+BEM) than across the PBL parameterizations when the UCM is held fixed. Based on evaluation against urban near-surface wind and temperature observations for this case, the BEP and BEP+BEM simulations are superior to the simple bulk scheme for each PBL parameterization.

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The Effects of Anthropogenic Heat Release on Urban Meteorology and Implication for Haze Pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

Advances in Meteorology ◽

10.1155/2016/6178308 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ruiting Liu ◽

Zhiwei Han

Keyword(s):

Heat Release ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Wrf Model ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Urban Canopy ◽

Anthropogenic Heat ◽

Hygroscopic Growth ◽

Near Surface ◽

Atmospheric Diffusion ◽

Haze Pollution

In this study, the effect of anthropogenic heat release (AHR) on meteorological variables and atmospheric diffusion capability and implication for haze pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in January 2013 were investigated by using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with an urban canopy model (UCM) and an AHR scheme. The comparison with observation demonstrated the WRF/UCM model taking AHR into account apparently improved meteorological prediction, especially for surface air temperature at 2 m (T2). The model also exhibited a better performance for planetary boundary layer (PBL) height. This study revealed that AHR from cities exerted a significant impact on meteorology by generally increasing surface air temperature and wind speed, decreasing relative humidity, and elevating PBL height and near surface turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), which could consequently reduce surface pollutant concentration and mitigate haze pollution by enhancing atmospheric instability and turbulent mixing and reducing aerosol hygroscopic growth.

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On the Summertime Planetary Boundary Layer with Different Thermodynamic Stability in China: A Radiosonde Perspective

Journal of Climate ◽

10.1175/jcli-d-17-0231.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 1451-1465 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Wanchun Zhang ◽

Jianping Guo ◽

Yucong Miao ◽

Huan Liu ◽

Yu Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Boundary Layer ◽

Planetary Boundary Layer ◽

Thermodynamic Stability ◽

Ground Surface ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Northwest China ◽

Occurrence Frequency ◽

Convective Boundary ◽

Near Surface ◽

Neutral Boundary Layer

Strongly influenced by thermodynamic stability, the planetary boundary layer (PBL) is key to the exchange of heat, momentum, and moisture between the ground surface and free troposphere. The PBL with different thermodynamic stability across the whole of China, however, is not yet well understood. In this study, the occurrence frequency and spatial distribution of the convective boundary layer (CBL), neutral boundary layer (NBL), and stable boundary layer (SBL) were systematically investigated, based on intensive summertime soundings launched at 1400 Beijing time (BJT) throughout China’s radiosonde network (CRN) for the period 2012 to 2016. Overall, the occurrences of CBL, NBL, and SBL account for 70%, 26%, and 4%, respectively, suggesting that CBL dominates in summer throughout China. In terms of the spatial pattern of PBL height, a prominent north–south gradient can be found with higher PBL height in northwest China. In addition, the PBL heights of CBL and NBL were found to be positively (negatively) associated with near-surface air temperature (humidity), whereas no apparent relationship was found for SBL. Furthermore, clouds tend to reduce the occurrence frequency, irrespective of PBL type. Roughly 70% of SBL cases occur under overcast conditions, much higher than those for NBL and CBL, indicating that clouds govern to some extent the occurrence of SBL. In contrast, except for the discernible changes in PBL height under overcast conditions relative to those under clear-sky conditions, the changes in PBL height under partly cloudy conditions are no more than 170 m for both NBL and CBL types.

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Evaluation of urban surface parameterizations in the WRF model using measurements during the Texas Air Quality Study 2006 field campaign

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-11-2127-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 2127-2143 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

S.-H. Lee ◽

S.-W. Kim ◽

W. M. Angevine ◽

L. Bianco ◽

S. A. McKeen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Boundary Layer ◽

Air Quality ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Urban Vegetation ◽

Galveston Bay ◽

Near Surface ◽

Field Campaign ◽

Quality Study

Abstract. The performance of different urban surface parameterizations in the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) in simulating urban boundary layer (UBL) was investigated using extensive measurements during the Texas Air Quality Study 2006 field campaign. The extensive field measurements collected on surface (meteorological, wind profiler, energy balance flux) sites, a research aircraft, and a research vessel characterized 3-dimensional atmospheric boundary layer structures over the Houston-Galveston Bay area, providing a unique opportunity for the evaluation of the physical parameterizations. The model simulations were performed over the Houston metropolitan area for a summertime period (12–17 August) using a bulk urban parameterization in the Noah land surface model (original LSM), a modified LSM, and a single-layer urban canopy model (UCM). The UCM simulation compared quite well with the observations over the Houston urban areas, reducing the systematic model biases in the original LSM simulation by 1–2 °C in near-surface air temperature and by 200–400 m in UBL height, on average. A more realistic turbulent (sensible and latent heat) energy partitioning contributed to the improvements in the UCM simulation. The original LSM significantly overestimated the sensible heat flux (~200 W m−2) over the urban areas, resulting in warmer and higher UBL. The modified LSM slightly reduced warm and high biases in near-surface air temperature (0.5–1 °C) and UBL height (~100 m) as a result of the effects of urban vegetation. The relatively strong thermal contrast between the Houston area and the water bodies (Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico) in the LSM simulations enhanced the sea/bay breezes, but the model performance in predicting local wind fields was similar among the simulations in terms of statistical evaluations. These results suggest that a proper surface representation (e.g. urban vegetation, surface morphology) and explicit parameterizations of urban physical processes are required for accurate urban atmospheric numerical modeling.

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Numerical simulations of the impact of the 20 March 2015 eclipse on UK weather

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2015.0218 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 374 (2077) ◽

pp. 20150218 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

P. A. Clark

Keyword(s):

Boundary Layer ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Sensible Heat Flux ◽

Thermal Inertia ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Atmospheric Effects ◽

Near Surface ◽

The Impact

Short lead-time forecasts using the operational United Kingdom variable-resolution (UKV) configuration of the Met Office’s numerical weather prediction model, with horizontal grid-length 1.5 km over the UK, with and without a representation of the 20 March 2015 eclipse, have been used to simulate the impact of the eclipse on UK weather. The major impact was surface-driven through changes to surface heat and moisture fluxes that changed the boundary-layer development. In cloud-free areas, the nocturnal stable boundary layer persisted or quickly re-established during the eclipse. Surface temperatures were reduced by 7–8°C, near-surface air temperature by 1–3°C, and near-surface winds were backed, typically by 20°. Impacts on wind speed were small and variable, and would have been very difficult to detect. Smaller impacts occurred beneath cloud. However, the impact was enhanced because most of the incoming radiation that reached the surface was driving surface sensible heat flux rather than moisture flux, and the near-surface air temperature impact (0.5–1° C ) agrees reasonably well with observations. The modelled impact of the eclipse was substantially reduced in urban areas due to their large thermal inertia. Experience from other assessments of the model suggests that this lack of response may be exaggerated. Surface impacts propagated upwards and downstream with time, resulting in a complex pattern of response, though generally near-surface temperature differences persisted for many hours after the eclipse. The impact on atmospheric pressure fields was insufficient to account for any significant perturbations to the wind field when compared with the direct impacts of surface stress and boundary-layer mixing. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Atmospheric effects of solar eclipses stimulated by the 2015 UK eclipse’.

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Effectiveness of Different Urban Heat Island Mitigation Methods and Their Regional Impacts

Journal of Hydrometeorology ◽

10.1175/jhm-d-17-0049.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 2991-3012 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ning Zhang ◽

Yan Chen ◽

Ling Luo ◽

Yongwei Wang

Keyword(s):

Boundary Layer ◽

Urban Heat Island ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Green Roofs ◽

Heat Island ◽

Near Surface ◽

Regional Impacts ◽

Urban Heat ◽

Cool Roofs

Abstract Cool roofs and green roofs are two popular methods to mitigate the urban heat island and improve urban climates. The effectiveness of different urban heat island mitigation strategies in the summer of 2013 in the Yangtze River delta, China, is investigated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model coupled with a physically based single-layer urban canopy model. The modifications to the roof surface changed the urban surface radiation balance and then modified the local surface energy budget. Both cool roofs and green roofs led to a lower surface skin temperature and near-surface air temperature. Increasing the roof albedo to 0.5 caused a similar effectiveness as covering 25% of urban roofs with vegetation; increasing the roof albedo to 0.7 caused a similar near-surface air temperature decrease as 50% green roof coverage. The near-surface relative humidity increased in both cool roof and green roof experiments because of the combination of the impacts of increases in specific humidity and decreases in air temperature. The regional impacts of cool roofs and green roofs were evaluated using a regional effect index. A regional impact was found for near-surface air temperature and specific/relative humidity when the percentage of roofs covered with high-albedo materials or green roofs reached a higher fraction (greater than 50%). The changes in the vertical profiles of temperature cause a more stable atmospheric boundary layer over the urban area; at the same time, the crossover phenomena occurred above the boundary layer due to the decrease in vertical wind speed.

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Evaluation and Comparison of Noah and Pleim–Xiu Land Surface Models in MM5 Using GÖTE2001 Data: Spatial and Temporal Variations in Near-Surface Air Temperature

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/jam2561.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 46 (10) ◽

pp. 1587-1605 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

J-F. Miao ◽

D. Chen ◽

K. Borne

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Land Surface ◽

Model Performance ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Near Surface ◽

Surface Models ◽

Urban Heat ◽

Soil Moisture Initialization ◽

Evident Difference

Abstract In this study, the performance of two advanced land surface models (LSMs; Noah LSM and Pleim–Xiu LSM) coupled with the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5), version 3.7.2, in simulating the near-surface air temperature in the greater Göteborg area in Sweden is evaluated and compared using the GÖTE2001 field campaign data. Further, the effects of different planetary boundary layer schemes [Eta and Medium-Range Forecast (MRF) PBLs] for Noah LSM and soil moisture initialization approaches for Pleim–Xiu LSM are investigated. The investigation focuses on the evaluation and comparison of diurnal cycle intensity and maximum and minimum temperatures, as well as the urban heat island during the daytime and nighttime under the clear-sky and cloudy/rainy weather conditions for different experimental schemes. The results indicate that 1) there is an evident difference between Noah LSM and Pleim–Xiu LSM in simulating the near-surface air temperature, especially in the modeled urban heat island; 2) there is no evident difference in the model performance between the Eta PBL and MRF PBL coupled with the Noah LSM; and 3) soil moisture initialization is of crucial importance for model performance in the Pleim–Xiu LSM. In addition, owing to the recent release of MM5, version 3.7.3, some experiments done with version 3.7.2 were repeated to reveal the effects of the modifications in the Noah LSM and Pleim–Xiu LSM. The modification to longwave radiation parameterizations in Noah LSM significantly improves model performance while the adjustment of emissivity, one of the vegetation properties, affects Pleim–Xiu LSM performance to a larger extent. The study suggests that improvements both in Noah LSM physics and in Pleim–Xiu LSM initialization of soil moisture and parameterization of vegetation properties are important.

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Nature-based cooling potential: a multi-type green infrastructure evaluation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

International Journal of Biometeorology ◽

10.1007/s00484-021-02100-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vidya Anderson ◽

William A. Gough

Keyword(s):

Urban Agriculture ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Green Infrastructure ◽

Urban Climate ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Green Roofs ◽

Near Surface ◽

Green Walls ◽

The Impact ◽

Agriculture Systems

AbstractThe application of green infrastructure presents an opportunity to mitigate rising temperatures using a multi-faceted ecosystems-based approach. A controlled field study in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, evaluates the impact of nature-based solutions on near surface air temperature regulation focusing on different applications of green infrastructure. A field campaign was undertaken over the course of two summers to measure the impact of green roofs, green walls, urban vegetation and forestry systems, and urban agriculture systems on near surface air temperature. This study demonstrates that multiple types of green infrastructure applications are beneficial in regulating near surface air temperature and are not limited to specific treatments. Widespread usage of green infrastructure could be a viable strategy to cool cities and improve urban climate.

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Evaluating temperature extremes in CMIP6 simulations using statistically proper evaluation methods

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-9722 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Thordis Thorarinsdottir ◽

Jana Sillmann ◽

Marion Haugen ◽

Nadine Gissibl ◽

Marit Sandstad

Keyword(s):

Air Temperature ◽

Model Evaluation ◽

Climate Models ◽

Climate Model ◽

Mean Squared Error ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Cmip5 Models ◽

Model Output ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Near Surface

Reliable projections of extremes in near-surface air temperature (SAT) by climate models become more and more important&#160;as global warming is leading to significant increases in the hottest days and decreases in coldest nights around the world with considerable impacts on various sectors, such as agriculture, health and tourism.Climate model evaluation has traditionally been performed by comparing summary statistics that are derived from simulated model output and corresponding observed quantities using, for instance, the root mean squared error (RMSE) or mean bias as also used in the model evaluation chapter of the fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR5). Both RMSE and mean bias compare averages over time and/or space, ignoring the variability, or the uncertainty, in the underlying values. Particularly when interested in the evaluation of climate extremes, climate models should be evaluated by comparing the probability distribution of model output to the corresponding distribution of observed data.To address this shortcoming, we use the integrated quadratic distance (IQD) to compare distributions of simulated indices to the corresponding distributions from a data product. The IQD is the proper divergence associated with the proper continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) as it fulfills essential decision-theoretic properties for ranking competing models and testing equality in performance, while also assessing the full distribution.The IQD is applied to evaluate CMIP5 and CMIP6 simulations of monthly maximum (TXx) and minimum near-surface air temperature (TNn) over the data-dense regions Europe and North America against both observational and reanalysis datasets. There is not a notable difference between the model generations CMIP5 and CMIP6 when the model simulations are compared against the observational dataset HadEX2. However, the CMIP6 models show a better agreement with the reanalysis ERA5 than CMIP5 models, with a few exceptions. Overall, the climate models show higher skill when compared against ERA5 than when compared against HadEX2. While the model rankings vary with region, season and index, the model evaluation is robust against changes in the grid resolution considered in the analysis.

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