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Single-Column Model Intercomparison for a Stably Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer

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Abstract

The parameterization of the stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer is a difficult issue, having a significant impact on medium-range weather forecasts and climate integrations. To pursue this further, a moderately stratified Arctic case is simulated by nineteen single-column turbulence schemes. Statistics from a large-eddy simulation intercomparison made for the same case by eleven different models are used as a guiding reference. The single-column parameterizations include research and operational schemes from major forecast and climate research centres. Results from first-order schemes, a large number of turbulence kinetic energy closures, and other models were used. There is a large spread in the results; in general, the operational schemes mix over a deeper layer than the research schemes, and the turbulence kinetic energy and other higher-order closures give results closer to the statistics obtained from the large-eddy simulations. The sensitivities of the schemes to the parameters of their turbulence closures are partially explored.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpt. Física, Univ. de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    J. Cuxart

  2. Meteorology and Air Quality Section, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    A. A. M. Holtslag & G-J. Steeneveld

  3. Met Office, London, U.K

    R. J. Beare

  4. Météo-France, Toulouse, France

    E. Bazile

  5. European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast, Reading, U.K

    A. Beljaars

  6. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, U.S.A

    A. Cheng & K-M. Xu

  7. Dpt. Física Aplicada, Univ. Polit‘ecnica de Catalunya, Manresa, Spain

    L. Conangla

  8. NOAA-NCEP, Camp Springs, MD, U.S.A.

    M. Ek & F. Freedman

  9. IAG G. Lemaître, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain la neuve, Belgium

    R. Hamdi & G. Schayes

  10. Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, U.S.A

    A. Kerstein & S. Wunsch

  11. Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo, Japan

    H. Kitagawa

  12. Royal Netherlands Met. Institute, KNMI, de Bilt, The Netherlands

    G. Lenderink

  13. West Virginia University, WV, U.S.A

    D. Lewellen

  14. Meteorological Service of Canada, Dorval, Quebec, Canada

    J. Mailhot

  15. Dpt. Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    T. Mauritsen & G. Svensson

  16. Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrkoping, Sweden

    V. Perov

  17. York University, York, Canada

    P. Taylor & W. Weng

Authors
  1. J. Cuxart
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  2. A. A. M. Holtslag
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  3. R. J. Beare
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  4. E. Bazile
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  5. A. Beljaars
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  6. A. Cheng
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  7. L. Conangla
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  8. M. Ek
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  9. F. Freedman
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  10. R. Hamdi
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  11. A. Kerstein
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  12. H. Kitagawa
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  13. G. Lenderink
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  14. D. Lewellen
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  15. J. Mailhot
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  16. T. Mauritsen
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  17. V. Perov
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  18. G. Schayes
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  19. G-J. Steeneveld
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  20. G. Svensson
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  21. P. Taylor
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  22. W. Weng
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  23. S. Wunsch
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  24. K-M. Xu
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Correspondence to J. Cuxart.

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Cuxart, J., Holtslag, A.A.M., Beare, R.J. et al. Single-Column Model Intercomparison for a Stably Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 118, 273–303 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-005-3780-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-005-3780-1

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