scholarly journals Prediction of Clouds and Rain Using a z-Coordinate Nonhydrostatic Model

2006 ◽  
Vol 134 (12) ◽  
pp. 3625-3643 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Steppeler ◽  
H. W. Bitzer ◽  
Z. Janjic ◽  
U. Schättler ◽  
P. Prohl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
Real Data ◽  
High Mountains ◽  
Grid Spacing ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Atmospheric Flow ◽  
Vertical Coordinate ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Systematic Improvement ◽  
Terrain Following

Abstract The most common option for numerical models of the atmosphere is to use model layers following the surface of the earth, using a terrain-following vertical coordinate. The present paper investigates the forecast of clouds and precipitation using the z-coordinate nonhydrostatic version of the Lokalmodell (LM-z). This model uses model layers that are parallel to the surface of the sphere and consequently intersect the orography. Physical processes are computed on a special grid, allowing adequate grid spacing even over high mountains. In other respects the model is identical to the nonhydrostatic terrain-following version of the LM, which in a number of European countries is used for operational mesoscale forecasting. The terrain-following version of the LM (LM-tf) is used for comparison with the forecasts of the LM-z. Terrain-following coordinates are accurate when the orography is shallow and smooth, while z-coordinate models need not satisfy this condition. Because the condition of smooth orography is rarely satisfied in reality, z-coordinate models should lead to a better representation of the atmospheric flow near mountains and consequently to a better representation of fog, low stratus, and precipitation. A number of real-data cases, computed with a grid spacing of 7 and 14 km, are investigated. A total of 39 real-data cases have been used to evaluate forecast scores. A rather systematic improvement of precipitation forecasts resulted in a substantial increase of threat scores. Furthermore, RMS verification against radiosondes showed an improvement of the 24-h forecast, both for wind and temperature. To investigate the possibility of flow separation at mountain tops, the flow in the lee of southern Italy was investigated.

scholarly journals Nonlinear Balance in Terrain-Following Coordinates

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
pp. 605-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G. Decker
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Potential Vorticity ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Real Data ◽  
The Other ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Vertical Coordinate ◽  
Flat Terrain ◽  
Terrain Following

Abstract Potential vorticity (PV) is a powerful concept in geophysical fluid dynamics. One property of PV that makes it so powerful is that it may be inverted under certain conditions, one of which is the imposition of a balance constraint. Previous studies have made use of a particular nonlinear balance constraint suited to isobaric coordinates as part of their inversion procedures. The present study constructs and tests a new nonlinear balance constraint that may be applied directly to the output of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model on its native terrain-following vertical coordinate. Output from the nonlinear balance operator is examined in the context of idealized and real-data WRF forecasts, and the results indicate that the simplifications necessary to derive the nonlinear balance operator are justified on the synoptic and meso-α scales. On the other hand, once the scales resolved by the model are small enough, neglected terms reach magnitudes on the order of the retained terms, even over flat terrain. This suggests that the use of this operator within a PV inversion scheme that also uses the WRF vertical coordinate would not capture a divergent portion of the flow that may be significant.

scholarly journals Saharan dust and giant quartz particle transport towards Iceland

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
György Varga ◽  
Pavla Dagsson-Walhauserová ◽  
Fruzsina Gresina ◽  
Agusta Helgadottir
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Atmospheric Environment ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Atmospheric Flow ◽  
Dust Transport ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Dust Events ◽  
Local Dust

AbstractMineral dust emissions from Saharan sources have an impact on the atmospheric environment and sedimentary units in distant regions. Here, we present the first systematic observations of long-range Saharan dust transport towards Iceland. Fifteen Saharan dust episodes were identified to have occurred between 2008 and 2020 based on aerosol optical depth data, backward trajectories and numerical models. Icelandic samples from the local dust sources were compared with deposited dust from two severe Saharan dust events in terms of their granulometric and mineralogical characteristics. The episodes were associated with enhanced meridional atmospheric flow patterns driven by unusual meandering jets. Strong winds were able to carry large Saharan quartz particles (> 100 µm) towards Iceland. Our results confirm the atmospheric pathways of Saharan dust towards the Arctic, and identify new northward meridional long-ranged transport of giant dust particles from the Sahara, including the first evidence of their deposition in Iceland as previously predicted by models.

scholarly journals A Review of Hydraulic Fracturing Simulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Chen ◽  
Beatriz Ramos Barboza ◽  
Yanan Sun ◽  
Jie Bai ◽  
Hywel R Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Improve Treatment ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Treatment Designs

AbstractAlong with horizontal drilling techniques, multi-stage hydraulic fracturing has improved shale gas production significantly in past decades. In order to understand the mechanism of hydraulic fracturing and improve treatment designs, it is critical to conduct modelling to predict stimulated fractures. In this paper, related physical processes in hydraulic fracturing are firstly discussed and their effects on hydraulic fracturing processes are analysed. Then historical and state of the art numerical models for hydraulic fracturing are reviewed, to highlight the pros and cons of different numerical methods. Next, commercially available software for hydraulic fracturing design are discussed and key features are summarised. Finally, we draw conclusions from the previous discussions in relation to physics, method and applications and provide recommendations for further research.

Optimized Icosahedral Grids: Performance of Finite-Difference Operators and Multigrid Solver

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (12) ◽  
pp. 4450-4469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross P. Heikes ◽  
David A. Randall ◽  
Celal S. Konor
Keyword(s):  
Finite Difference ◽  
Convergence Analysis ◽  
Optimization Methods ◽  
Difference Operators ◽  
Grid Spacing ◽  
Multigrid Solver ◽  
Poisson Equations ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Grid Optimization ◽  
Accuracy Performance

Abstract This paper discusses the generation of icosahedral hexagonal–pentagonal grids, optimization of the grids, how optimization affects the accuracy of finite-difference Laplacian, Jacobian, and divergence operators, and a parallel multigrid solver that can be used to solve Poisson equations on the grids. Three different grid optimization methods are compared through an error convergence analysis. The optimization process increases the accuracy of the operators. Optimized grids up to 1-km grid spacing over the earth have been created. The accuracy, performance, and scalability of the multigrid solver are demonstrated.

Two-way nesting ocean models with different vertical coordinates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome Chanut ◽  
James Harle ◽  
Tim Graham ◽  
Laurent Debreu
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Test Cases ◽  
Numerical Representation ◽  
Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian ◽  
Coordinate Systems ◽  
Vertical Coordinate ◽  
Terrain Following ◽  
New Feature ◽  
Polynomial Reconstruction ◽  
Horizontal Grid

<p>The NEMO platform possesses a versatile block-structured refinement capacity thanks to the AGRIF library. It is however restricted up to versions 4.0x, to the horizontal direction only. In the present work, we explain how we extended the nesting capabilities to the vertical direction, a feature which can appear, in some circumstances, as beneficial as refining the horizontal grid.</p><p>Doing so is not a new concept per se, except that we consider here the general case of child and parent grids with possibly different vertical coordinate systems, hence not logically defined from each other as in previous works. This enables connecting together for instance z (geopotential), s (terrain following) or eventually ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian) coordinate systems. In any cases, two-way exchanges are enabled, which is the other novel aspect tackled here.  </p><p>Considering the vertical nesting procedure itself, we describe the use of high order conservative and monotone polynomial reconstruction operators to remap from parent to child grids and vice versa. Test cases showing the feasibility of the approach are presented, with particular attention on the connection of s and z grids in the context of gravity flow modelling. This work can be considered as a preliminary step towards the application of the vertical nesting concept over major overflow regions in global realistic configurations. The numerical representation of these areas is indeed known to be particularly sensitive to the vertical coordinate formulation. More generally, this work illustrates the typical methodology from the development to the validation of a new feature in the NEMO model.</p>

Fog forecasting for Schiphol airport at sub-kilometre scale.  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld ◽  
Roosmarijn Knol
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Radiation Fog ◽  
Fog Forecasting ◽  
Elevation Data ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

<p>Fog is a critical weather phenomenon for safety and operations in aviation. Unfortunately, the forecasting of radiation fog remains challenging due to the numerous physical processes that play a role and their complex interactions, in addition to the vertical and horizontal resolution of the numerical models. In this study we evaluate the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for a radiation fog event at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (The Netherlands) and further develop the model towards a 100 m grid spacing. Hence we introduce high resolution land use and land elevation data. In addition we study the role of gravitational droplet settling, advection of TKE, top-down diffusion caused by strong radiative cooling at the fog top. Finally the impact of heat released by the terminal areas on the fog formation is studied. The model outcomes are evaluated against 1-min weather observations near multiple runways at the airport.</p><p>Overall we find the WRF model shows an reasonable timing of the fog onset and is well able to reproduce the visibility and meteorological conditions as observed during the case study. The model appears to be relatively insensitive to the activation of the individual physical processes. An increased spatial resolution to 100 m generally results in a better timing of the fog onset differences up to three hours, though not for all runways. The effect of the refined landuse dominates over the effect of refined elevation data. The modelled fog dissipation systematically occurs 3-4 h hours too early, regardless of physical processes or spatial resolution. Finally, the introduction of heat from terminal buildings delays the fog onset with a maximum of two hours, an overestimated visibility of 100-200 m and a decrease of the LWC with 0.10-0.15 g/kg compared to the reference.</p>

scholarly journals Sensitivity of a Bowing Mesoscale Convective System to Horizontal Grid Spacing in a Convection-Allowing Ensemble

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
John R. Lawson ◽  
William A. Gallus ◽  
Corey K. Potvin
Keyword(s):  
Mesoscale Convective System ◽  
Real Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Convective System ◽  
Grid Spacing ◽  
Structure Amplitude ◽  
Cold Pools ◽  
Bow Echo ◽  
Mesoscale Convective ◽  
Horizontal Grid

The bow echo, a mesoscale convective system (MCS) responsible for much hail and wind damage across the United States, is associated with poor skill in convection-allowing numerical model forecasts. Given the decrease in convection-allowing grid spacings within many operational forecasting systems, we investigate the effect of finer resolution on the character of bowing-MCS development in a real-data numerical simulation. Two ensembles were generated: one with a single domain of 3-km horizontal grid spacing, and another nesting a 1-km domain with two-way feedback. Ensemble members were generated from their control member with a stochastic kinetic-energy backscatter scheme, with identical initial and lateral-boundary conditions. Results suggest that resolution reduces hindcast skill of this MCS, as measured with an adaptation of the object-based Structure–Amplitude–Location method. The nested 1-km ensemble produces a faster system than in both the 3-km ensemble and observations. The nested 1-km simulation also produced stronger cold pools, which could be enhanced by the increased (fractal) cloud surface area with higher resolution, allowing more entrainment of dry air and hence increased evaporative cooling.

The place of geophysics in the university - an academics view

1971 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
S.H. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Physical Oceanography ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Ionospheric Physics ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The University

If one seeks in any dictionary the meaning of geophysics, it is difficult, to my mind, to find an entirely satisfying one. One I found was the 'study of physical processes relating to the Earth'. A better one I feel would read 'the study of physical processes, state and properties relating to the Earth' ---. Most geophysicists not long ago insisted that this definition included the aesthenosphere, 1ithosphere, atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere etc. -- if one judges by the contents of some geophysical journals, and thereby considered physical oceanography, meteorology, ionospheric physics, etc. as aspects of the all-embracing title-geophysics. In speaking on this topic as it relates to a department of geology, I should add that they have not had the temerity to include geology as a further aspect.

scholarly journals Hybrid Mass Coordinate in WRF-ARW and Its Impact on Upper-Level Turbulence Forecasting

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 (3) ◽  
pp. 971-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Hun Park ◽  
Joseph B. Klemp ◽  
Jung-Hoon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Wrf Model ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Artificial Noise ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Vertical Coordinate ◽  
Numerical Errors ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Upper Level Jet

Abstract Although a terrain-following vertical coordinate is well suited for the application of surface boundary conditions, it is well known that the influences of the terrain on the coordinate surfaces can contribute to increase numerical errors, particularly over steep topography. To reduce these errors, a hybrid sigma–pressure coordinate is formulated in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, and its effects are illustrated for both an idealized test case and a real-data forecast for upper-level turbulence. The idealized test case confirms that with the basic sigma coordinate, significant upper-level disturbances can be produced due to numerical errors that arise as the advection of strong horizontal flow is computed along coordinate surfaces that are perturbed by smaller-scale terrain influences. With the hybrid coordinate, this artificial noise is largely eliminated as the mid- and upper-level coordinate surfaces correspond much more closely to constant pressure surfaces. In real-data simulations for upper-level turbulence forecasting, the WRF Model using the basic sigma coordinate tends to overpredict the strength of upper-air turbulence over mountainous regions because of numerical errors arising as a strong upper-level jet is advected along irregular coordinate surfaces. With the hybrid coordinate, these errors are reduced, resulting in an improved forecast of upper-level turbulence. Analysis of kinetic energy spectra for these simulations confirms that artificial amplitudes in the smaller scales at upper levels that arise with the basic sigma coordinate are effectively removed when the hybrid coordinate is used.

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