Influence of Bulk Microphysics Schemes upon Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Version 3.6.1 Nor'easter Simulations

• Published in: Geoscientific Model Development Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 1033 - 1049
• Main Authors: Nicholls, Stephen D, Decker, Steven G, Tao, Wei-Kuo, Lang, Stephen E, Shi, Jainn J, Mohr, Karen I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Copernicus GmbH 03.03.2017; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Aggregation; Atmospheric precipitations; Climate models; Computer simulation; Cyclogenesis; Cyclones; Graupel; Hurricanes; Hydrologic data; Hydrometeors; Hydrometers; Investigations; Mathematical models; Methods; Microphysics; Mixing ratio; Precipitation; Precipitation data; Profiles; Radar; Radar data; Radar reflectivity; Rain; Rainfall; Rainfall distribution; Ratios; Reflectance; Simulation; Snow; Spatial analysis; Storms; Studies; Supersaturation; Temperature; Variability; Weather; Weather forecasting; Winter; United States > US; Baltimore Maryland
• ISSN: 1991-9603; 1991-959X; 1991-962X; 1991-9603; 1991-962X
• DOI: 10.5194/gmd-10-1033-2017

This study evaluated the impact of five, single- or double- moment bulk microphysics schemes (BMPSs) on Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) simulations of seven, intense winter time cyclones impacting the Mid-Atlantic United States. Five-day long WRF simulations were initialized roughly 24 hours prior to the onset of coastal cyclogenesis off the North Carolina coastline. In all, 35 model simulations (5 BMPSs and seven cases) were run and their associated microphysics-related storm properties (hydrometer mixing ratios, precipitation, and radar reflectivity) were evaluated against model analysis and available gridded radar and ground-based precipitation products. Inter-BMPS comparisons of column-integrated mixing ratios and mixing ratio profiles reveal little variability in non-frozen hydrometeor species due to their shared programming heritage, yet their assumptions concerning snow and graupel intercepts, ice supersaturation, snow and graupel density maps, and terminal velocities lead to considerable variability in both simulated frozen hydrometeor species and radar reflectivity. WRF-simulated precipitation fields exhibit minor spatio-temporal variability amongst BMPSs, yet their spatial extent is largely conserved. Compared to ground-based precipitation data, WRF-simulations demonstrate low-to-moderate (0.217-0.414) threat scores and a rainfall distribution shifted toward higher values. Finally, an analysis of WRF and gridded radar reflectivity data via contoured frequency with altitude (CFAD) diagrams reveals notable variability amongst BMPSs, where better performing schemes favored lower graupel mixing ratios and better underlying aggregation assumptions.