Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling
<p>This study investigates the mechanisms acting at the air–sea interface during a heavy precipitation event that occurred between 12 and 14 October 2016 over the north-western Mediterranean area and led to large amounts of rainfall (up to 300 mm in 24 h) over the Hérault...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/20/1675/2020/acp-20-1675-2020.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819050693636390912 |
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| author | C. Sauvage C. Lebeaupin Brossier M.-N. Bouin M.-N. Bouin V. Ducrocq |
| author_facet | C. Sauvage C. Lebeaupin Brossier M.-N. Bouin M.-N. Bouin V. Ducrocq |
| author_sort | C. Sauvage |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>This study investigates the mechanisms acting at the air–sea interface during a heavy precipitation event that occurred between 12 and 14 October 2016 over the north-western Mediterranean area and led to large amounts of rainfall (up to 300 mm in 24 h) over the Hérault region (southern France). The study case was characterized by a very strong (<span class="inline-formula">>20</span> m s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) easterly to south-easterly wind at low level that generated very rough seas (significant wave height of up to 6 m) along the French Riviera and the Gulf of Lion. In order to investigate the role of the waves on air–sea exchanges during such extreme events, a set of numerical experiments was designed using the Météo-France kilometre-scale AROME-France numerical weather prediction model – including the WASP (Wave-Age-dependant Stress Parametrization) sea surface turbulent flux parametrization – and the WaveWatch III wave model. Results from these sensitivity experiments in the forced or coupled modes showed that taking the waves generated by the model into account increases the surface roughness. Thus, the increase in the momentum flux induces a slowdown of the easterly low-level atmospheric flow and a displacement of the convergence line at sea. Despite strong winds and a young sea below the easterly flow, the turbulent heat fluxes upstream of the precipitating system are not significantly modified. The forecast of the heaviest precipitation is finally modified when the sea state is taken into account; notably, in terms of location, this modification is slightly larger in the forced mode than in the coupled mode, as the coupling interactively balances the wind sea, the stress and the wind.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:52:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b51d81da2514a29a18031cfea8c30fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:52:06Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b51d81da2514a29a18031cfea8c30fc2022-12-21T19:05:01ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242020-02-01201675169910.5194/acp-20-1675-2020Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modellingC. Sauvage0C. Lebeaupin Brossier1M.-N. Bouin2M.-N. Bouin3V. Ducrocq4CNRM, Université de Toulouse, Météo-France/CNRS, Toulouse, FranceCNRM, Université de Toulouse, Météo-France/CNRS, Toulouse, FranceCNRM, Université de Toulouse, Météo-France/CNRS, Toulouse, FranceCNRS, Ifremer, IRD, UBO/Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), UMR 6523, IUEM, Plouzané, FranceCNRM, Université de Toulouse, Météo-France/CNRS, Toulouse, France<p>This study investigates the mechanisms acting at the air–sea interface during a heavy precipitation event that occurred between 12 and 14 October 2016 over the north-western Mediterranean area and led to large amounts of rainfall (up to 300 mm in 24 h) over the Hérault region (southern France). The study case was characterized by a very strong (<span class="inline-formula">>20</span> m s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) easterly to south-easterly wind at low level that generated very rough seas (significant wave height of up to 6 m) along the French Riviera and the Gulf of Lion. In order to investigate the role of the waves on air–sea exchanges during such extreme events, a set of numerical experiments was designed using the Météo-France kilometre-scale AROME-France numerical weather prediction model – including the WASP (Wave-Age-dependant Stress Parametrization) sea surface turbulent flux parametrization – and the WaveWatch III wave model. Results from these sensitivity experiments in the forced or coupled modes showed that taking the waves generated by the model into account increases the surface roughness. Thus, the increase in the momentum flux induces a slowdown of the easterly low-level atmospheric flow and a displacement of the convergence line at sea. Despite strong winds and a young sea below the easterly flow, the turbulent heat fluxes upstream of the precipitating system are not significantly modified. The forecast of the heaviest precipitation is finally modified when the sea state is taken into account; notably, in terms of location, this modification is slightly larger in the forced mode than in the coupled mode, as the coupling interactively balances the wind sea, the stress and the wind.</p>https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/20/1675/2020/acp-20-1675-2020.pdf |
| spellingShingle | C. Sauvage C. Lebeaupin Brossier M.-N. Bouin M.-N. Bouin V. Ducrocq Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling |
| title_full | Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling |
| title_short | Characterization of the air–sea exchange mechanisms during a Mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling |
| title_sort | characterization of the air sea exchange mechanisms during a mediterranean heavy precipitation event using realistic sea state modelling |
| url | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/20/1675/2020/acp-20-1675-2020.pdf |
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