Evaluation of Daytime Boundary Layer Heights from a Mesoscale Model Using Profilers/RASS Measurements
Abstract
This thesis study focuses on the evaluation of the boundary layer height (BLH) diagnosed from a mesoscale model in comparison to wind profiler/Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) measurements from the profiler site at Miramar Marine Corps Station (MMR). This objective is met through validation of the observed BLH and evaluations of the model BLH using the observed BLH's. In particular, two methods, one uses Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) from the profiler, and the other uses the vertical gradient of virtual potential temperature from RASS, were developed to detect BLH from the profiler/RASS systems. The detected BLH was validated against BLH from rawinsonde measurements. The SNR method gives a better mean BLH in the clear convective unstable BL's while the gradient method shows better correlation with the rawinsonde BLH. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for the inland location (MMR) was compared to these profiler BLH estimates. Although WRF reasonably predicts the general BL behavior, WRF underestimated the BLH by several hundred meters. The WRF diagnosed BLH using the bulk Richardson number was inconsistent with the WRF predicted BL thermodynamics structure. An alternative BLH detection scheme using a gradient method of BLH detection is proposed and tested for WRF, showing better results.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA479824
Entities
People
- Lindsay A. Bloch
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School