Initialization of Clouds in the PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model Using the Air Force's Real-Time Nephanalysis

Abstract

Modem operational mesoscale numerical weather prediction models have the potential to forecast cloud structure and distribution more accurately through cloud physical initialization than through simple cloud cover estimation with synoptic-scale data or through dynamic initialization. In an attempt to produce a better cloud forecast and to reduce model spin-up time, a technique is developed that converts the Air Force's Real-Time Nephanalysis (RTNEPH) into cloud species mixing ratios that are used to initialize the PSU/NCAR Fifth-Generation Mesoscale Model (MM5). The cloud analysis and the model are chosen to simulate the operational modeling environment at Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA). MM5 is used to forecast clouds evolving around a stationary front along the Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico from 13 September 2000 through 15 September 2000. A cloud physical parameterization scheme currently in use in the Eta model provides the framework for converting RTNEPH clouds to data that can be used to initialize MM5. Modifications to this scheme make it purely diagnostic and account for the higher resolution grid to which it is applied. The technique used to initialize clouds is called the Cloud Initialization Scheme (CIS). Cloud variables analyzed by CIS are used to examine how sensitive MM5 forecast cloud distributions are to the initial distribution of clouds. Analyzed cloud is also compared to MM5 forecast clouds to determine if cloud forecasts are improved using this technique, and to determine if model spin-up is reduced. Results indicate dramatic improvement in reducing spin-up time but only slight improvement in forecast accuracy. Large differences exist between the distribution characteristics of the analysis and of the forecast.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA399286

Entities

People

  • Louis E. Cantrell Jr.

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Boundary Layer
  • Cloud Physics
  • Equations Of State
  • Geography
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Of Fusion
  • Latent Heat
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Operating Systems
  • Phase Transformations
  • Thermodynamics
  • Three Dimensional
  • Transition Temperature
  • Transitions
  • Weather Forecasting

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers