A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2005.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Flagg, David D. (David Douglas)
Other Authors: Dara Entekhabi.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33725
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author Flagg, David D. (David Douglas)
author2 Dara Entekhabi.
author_facet Dara Entekhabi.
Flagg, David D. (David Douglas)
author_sort Flagg, David D. (David Douglas)
collection MIT
description Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2005.
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spelling mit-1721.1/337252019-04-10T09:19:59Z A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer Flagg, David D. (David Douglas) Dara Entekhabi. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2005. Includes bibliographical references (p. 46-49). This study examines the effect of a time-varying parameterization for subsidence in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) on a one-dimensional coupled land-atmosphere model. Measurements of large-scale divergence in the ABL are scarce and often marred by error, providing the motivation to model this important physical process and estimate its values from indirect but related observations. Constant parameterizations of-large- scale divergence and/or subsidence velocity are adequate for periods within a characteristic synoptic time scale, but longer studies require a parameterization that yields to local atmospheric change. After confirming the potential significance of subsidence in the ABL, this experiment investigates two key areas: (1) the ability to model subsidence change as a response to estimated time-varying model error and (2) the net improvement and potential benefits of this enhancement. This study indicates a consistent reduction of root-mean-square error scores for the time-varying subsidence (divergence) parameter scheme versus a constant parameterization for the 2 m specific humidity measurement, with negligible change to the 2 m temperature measurement. (cont.) Model error does not improve explicitly, in spite of the presumed improvement to model physics. However, the unknown nature of the model error precludes an accurate diagnose of change, thus leaving the root-mean-square-error scores as the principal tool of evaluation and hence the justifying the potential usefulness of the time-varying parameterization. by David D. Flagg. S.M. 2006-07-31T15:27:46Z 2006-07-31T15:27:46Z 2005 2005 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33725 65168343 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 56 p. 3024157 bytes 3026415 bytes application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
Flagg, David D. (David Douglas)
A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer
title A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer
title_full A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer
title_fullStr A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer
title_full_unstemmed A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer
title_short A time-varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer
title_sort time varying subsidence parameterization for the atmospheric boundary layer
topic Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33725
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