Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation System

Radiative transfer model can be used to convert the geophysical variables (e.g., atmospheric thermodynamic state) to the radiation field. In this study, the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) is used to connect regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model outputs and satellite observ...

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Main Authors: Kao-Shen Chung, Hsien-Jung Chiu, Chian-Yi Liu, Meng-Yue Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/18/3060
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author Kao-Shen Chung
Hsien-Jung Chiu
Chian-Yi Liu
Meng-Yue Lin
author_facet Kao-Shen Chung
Hsien-Jung Chiu
Chian-Yi Liu
Meng-Yue Lin
author_sort Kao-Shen Chung
collection DOAJ
description Radiative transfer model can be used to convert the geophysical variables (e.g., atmospheric thermodynamic state) to the radiation field. In this study, the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) is used to connect regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model outputs and satellite observations. A heavy rainfall event caused by the Mei-Yu front on the June 1, 2017, in the vicinity of Taiwan, was chosen as a case study. The simulated cloud performance of WRF with four microphysics schemes (i.e., Goddard (GCE), WRF single-moment 6 class (WSM), WRF double-moment 6 class (WDM), and Morrison (MOR) schemes) was investigated objectively using multichannel observed satellite radiances from a Japanese geostationary satellite Himawari-8. The results over the East Asia domain (9 km) illustrate that all four microphysics schemes overestimate cloudy pixels, in particular, the high cloud of simulation with MOR when comparing with satellite data. Sensitivity tests reveal that the excess condensation of ice at ≥14 km with MOR might be associated with the overestimated high cloud cover. However, GCE displayed an improved performance on water vapor channel in clear skies. When focusing on Taiwan using a higher (3 km) model resolution, each scheme displayed a decent performance on cloudy pixels. In the grid-by-grid skill score analysis, the distribution of high clouds was the most accurate among the three cloud types. The results also suggested that all schemes required a longer simulation time to describe the low cloud horizontal extend.
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spelling doaj.art-2a016425ee714c62b58ccbdb5a49d1382023-11-20T14:15:16ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-09-011218306010.3390/rs12183060Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation SystemKao-Shen Chung0Hsien-Jung Chiu1Chian-Yi Liu2Meng-Yue Lin3Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 300 Zhongda Road, Chung-Li District, Tao-Yuan City 32001, TaiwanDepartment of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 300 Zhongda Road, Chung-Li District, Tao-Yuan City 32001, TaiwanCenter for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, 300 Zhongda Road, Chung-Li District, Tao-Yuan City 32001, TaiwanCenter for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, 300 Zhongda Road, Chung-Li District, Tao-Yuan City 32001, TaiwanRadiative transfer model can be used to convert the geophysical variables (e.g., atmospheric thermodynamic state) to the radiation field. In this study, the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) is used to connect regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model outputs and satellite observations. A heavy rainfall event caused by the Mei-Yu front on the June 1, 2017, in the vicinity of Taiwan, was chosen as a case study. The simulated cloud performance of WRF with four microphysics schemes (i.e., Goddard (GCE), WRF single-moment 6 class (WSM), WRF double-moment 6 class (WDM), and Morrison (MOR) schemes) was investigated objectively using multichannel observed satellite radiances from a Japanese geostationary satellite Himawari-8. The results over the East Asia domain (9 km) illustrate that all four microphysics schemes overestimate cloudy pixels, in particular, the high cloud of simulation with MOR when comparing with satellite data. Sensitivity tests reveal that the excess condensation of ice at ≥14 km with MOR might be associated with the overestimated high cloud cover. However, GCE displayed an improved performance on water vapor channel in clear skies. When focusing on Taiwan using a higher (3 km) model resolution, each scheme displayed a decent performance on cloudy pixels. In the grid-by-grid skill score analysis, the distribution of high clouds was the most accurate among the three cloud types. The results also suggested that all schemes required a longer simulation time to describe the low cloud horizontal extend.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/18/3060radiative transfer modelmicrophysical schememodel evaluation/performance
spellingShingle Kao-Shen Chung
Hsien-Jung Chiu
Chian-Yi Liu
Meng-Yue Lin
Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation System
Remote Sensing
radiative transfer model
microphysical scheme
model evaluation/performance
title Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation System
title_full Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation System
title_fullStr Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation System
title_full_unstemmed Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation System
title_short Satellite Observation for Evaluating Cloud Properties of the Microphysical Schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting Simulation: A Case Study of the Mei-Yu Front Precipitation System
title_sort satellite observation for evaluating cloud properties of the microphysical schemes in weather research and forecasting simulation a case study of the mei yu front precipitation system
topic radiative transfer model
microphysical scheme
model evaluation/performance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/18/3060
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