Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case study
The representation of cloud microphysical processes in models has always been a challenge leading to uncertainty in convective simulations. This paper evaluates the effect of cloud microphysical parameterizations on the simulation of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) through a realistic banded con...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1149518/full |
| _version_ | 1827964195430203392 |
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| author | Di Wu Li Ma Tiantian Hu Ruixi Zhang |
| author_facet | Di Wu Li Ma Tiantian Hu Ruixi Zhang |
| author_sort | Di Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The representation of cloud microphysical processes in models has always been a challenge leading to uncertainty in convective simulations. This paper evaluates the effect of cloud microphysical parameterizations on the simulation of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) through a realistic banded convection process. A series of numerical simulation experiments are performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model at a convection-permitting scale with a 3 km horizontal grid spacing. Specifically, four experiments considering different hydrometeor species within the WRF single-moment-microphysics schemes (WSMMPs) are conducted, and three additional sensitivity tests change the graupel particle properties. The results indicate that the significant differences in the times of convection initiation across the experiments reach 120 min, and more hydrometeor species may lead to later convection initiation. Moreover, the frozen graupel hydrometeor characteristics can appreciably alter the simulated convective morphology, even more than other hydrometeor species. When the graupel becomes smaller (such as Graupel-like), the fall speed of the graupel particles decreases. Therefore, more numerous graupel particles reside in clouds for a longer time, and experience more atmospheric diabatic heating and cooling effects. As a result, the simulated convective systems exhibit strong banded convective echo characteristics, the surface 10-m wind gust increases, and the cold pools associated with additional melting and evaporation become stronger, accelerating the propagation of the system. In contrast, larger and less abundant graupels (e.g., Hail-like) have a faster fall speed, and the atmospheric diabatic heating and cooling decrease by shortening the duration of their residence time within the clouds, resulting in a weak quasi-linear convective system, weak surface 10-m wind gust, unobvious cold pool, and slower propagation. Comparisons of the experiments further demonstrate that the fall speeds of frozen graupel particles largely impact the vertical distribution of the hydrometeors and the related microphysical processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:11:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9420326650c45599bf3b28e7775e834 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:11:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9420326650c45599bf3b28e7775e8342023-04-20T05:52:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632023-04-011110.3389/feart.2023.11495181149518Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case studyDi Wu0Li Ma1Tiantian Hu2Ruixi Zhang3Department of Aviation Meteorology, College of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaTianjin Central Observatory for Oceanic Meteorology, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Aviation Meteorology, College of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, ChinaThe representation of cloud microphysical processes in models has always been a challenge leading to uncertainty in convective simulations. This paper evaluates the effect of cloud microphysical parameterizations on the simulation of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) through a realistic banded convection process. A series of numerical simulation experiments are performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model at a convection-permitting scale with a 3 km horizontal grid spacing. Specifically, four experiments considering different hydrometeor species within the WRF single-moment-microphysics schemes (WSMMPs) are conducted, and three additional sensitivity tests change the graupel particle properties. The results indicate that the significant differences in the times of convection initiation across the experiments reach 120 min, and more hydrometeor species may lead to later convection initiation. Moreover, the frozen graupel hydrometeor characteristics can appreciably alter the simulated convective morphology, even more than other hydrometeor species. When the graupel becomes smaller (such as Graupel-like), the fall speed of the graupel particles decreases. Therefore, more numerous graupel particles reside in clouds for a longer time, and experience more atmospheric diabatic heating and cooling effects. As a result, the simulated convective systems exhibit strong banded convective echo characteristics, the surface 10-m wind gust increases, and the cold pools associated with additional melting and evaporation become stronger, accelerating the propagation of the system. In contrast, larger and less abundant graupels (e.g., Hail-like) have a faster fall speed, and the atmospheric diabatic heating and cooling decrease by shortening the duration of their residence time within the clouds, resulting in a weak quasi-linear convective system, weak surface 10-m wind gust, unobvious cold pool, and slower propagation. Comparisons of the experiments further demonstrate that the fall speeds of frozen graupel particles largely impact the vertical distribution of the hydrometeors and the related microphysical processes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1149518/fullWRFcloud microphysics parametersdiabatic heating and coolinggraupel particlesbanded convection |
| spellingShingle | Di Wu Li Ma Tiantian Hu Ruixi Zhang Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case study Frontiers in Earth Science WRF cloud microphysics parameters diabatic heating and cooling graupel particles banded convection |
| title | Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case study |
| title_full | Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case study |
| title_fullStr | Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case study |
| title_short | Impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection-permitting simulation: a case study |
| title_sort | impacts of microphysical parameterizations on banded convective system in convection permitting simulation a case study |
| topic | WRF cloud microphysics parameters diabatic heating and cooling graupel particles banded convection |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1149518/full |
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