Identification

Title

Modeling convective-stratiform precipitation processes on a Mei-Yu front with the weather research and forecasting model: Comparison with observations and sensitivity to cloud microphysics parameterizations

Abstract

Deep convective-scale simulations of the linear mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) formed on a Mei-Yu front over the Huai River basin in China on 7–8 July 2007 were conducted using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model to investigate impacts of cloud microphysics parameterizations on simulated convective-stratiform precipitation processes. Eight simulations were performed with identical configurations, except for differences in the cloud microphysics parameterizations. Measurements from rain gauges, ground-based weather radars, and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite Precipitation Radar were used to quantitatively evaluate the model results. While all of the simulations largely capture the observed large-scale characteristics of the precipitation event, notable differences among the simulations are found in the morphology and evolution of the MCSs at mesoscale and cloud scale. Significant influences on the coupling between dynamical and microphysical processes at the resolved deep convective scale by the various microphysical parameterizations are evident. On the one hand, the different microphysical schemes produce not only substantial differences in intensity of convective precipitation but also distinguishable vertical distributions of latent heating and condensate loading in the deep convective regions, which in turn results in significant differences in the vertical distributions of vertical air velocity and in the heights and strength of detrainment from deep convective regions. Consequently, detrainment of hydrometeors and positively buoyant air from the deep convective regions to the stratiform regions is significantly different, which impacts the formation and growth of ice-phase hydrometeors at the upper levels and thus surface rainfall rates in the stratiform regions. On the other hand, prediction of rain size distribution significantly impacts the simulated rain evaporation rates and mass-weighted rain fall speeds, and hence rain flux. Improper determination of the intercept parameter of rain size distribution can result in unrealistic features in the morphology of the storm and can have substantial impacts on precipitation distribution and evolution.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7qj7jk2

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

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Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-09-25T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

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Conformity

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version of format

Constraints related to access and use

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Use constraints

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact