Abstract
In the present study, the Advanced Research WRF (ARW) version 3.2.1 has been used to simulate the heavy rainfall event that occurred between 7 and 9 October 2007 in the southern part of Bangladesh. Weather Research and Forecast (WRF–ARW version) modelling system with six different microphysics (MP) schemes and two different cumulus parameterization (CP) schemes in a nested configuration was chosen for simulating the event. The model domains consist of outer and inner domains having 9 and 3 km horizontal resolution, respectively with 28 vertical sigma levels. The impacts of cloud microphysical processes by means of precipitation, wind and reflectivity, kinematic and thermodynamic characteristics of the event have been studied. Sensitivity experiments have been conducted with the WRF model to test the impact of microphysical and cumulus parameterization schemes in capturing the extreme weather event. NCEP FNL data were used for the initial and boundary condition. The model ran for 72 h using initial data at 0000 UTC of 7 October 2007. The simulated rainfall shows that WSM6–KF combination gives better results for all combinations and after that Lin–KF combination. WSM3–KF has simulated, less area average rainfall out of all MP schemes that were coupled with KF scheme. The sharp peak of relative humidity up to 300 hPa has been simulated along the vertical line where maximum updraft has been found for all MPs coupled with KF and BMJ schemes. The simulated rain water and cloud water mixing ratio were maximum at the position where the vertical velocity and reflectivity has also been maximum. The production of rain water mixing ratio depends on MP schemes as well as CP schemes. Rainfall depends on rain water mixing ratio between 950 and 500 hPa. Rain water mixing ratio above 500 hPa level has no effect on surface rain.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dudhia J 1989 Numerical study of convection observed during the Winter Monsoon Experiment using a mesoscale two dimensional model; J. Atmos. Sci. 46 3077–3107.
Dudhia J, Hong S Y and Lim K S 2008 A new method for representing mixed-phase particle fall speeds in bulk microphysics parameterizations; J. Meteor. Soc. Japan 86A 33–44.
Ek M B, Mitchell K E, Lin Y, Rogers E, Grunmann P, Koren V, Gayno G and Tarpley J D 2003 Implementation of Noah land surface model advances in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction operational mesoscale Eta Model; J. Geophys. Res. 108 8851, doi:10.1029/2002JD003296.
Etherton B and Santos P 2008 Sensitivity of WRF forecasts for south Florida to initial conditions; Wea. Forecast 23 725–740.
Ferrier B S, Tao W K and Simpson J 1995 A double moment multiple phase four-class bulk ice scheme. Part II: Simulations of convective storms in different large-scale environments and comparisons with other bulk parameterizations; J. Atmos. Sci. 52 1001–1033.
Hong S Y and Pan H L 1996 Nonlocal boundary layer vertical diffusion in a medium-range forecast model; Mon. Weather Rev. 124 2322–2339.
Hong S Y, Dudhia J and Chen S H 2004 A revised approach to ice microphysical processes for the bulk parameterization of clouds and precipitation; Mon. Weather Rev. 132 103–120.
Hong S Y and Lim J 2006 The WRF Single-Moment 6-Class Microphysics Scheme (WSM6); J. Korean Meteor. Soc. 42 129–151.
Hong Y S, Noh J Y and Dudhia J 2006 A new vertical diffusion package with an explicit treatment of entrainment process; Mon. Weather Rev. 134 2318–2341.
Itano T and Ishikawa H 2002 Effect of negative vorticity on the formation of multiple structure of natural vortices; J. Atmos. Sci. 59 3254–3262.
Janjic Z I 1994 The step-mountain eta coordinate model: Further developments of the convection, viscous sublayer, and turbulence closure schemes; Mon. Weather Rev. 122 927–945.
Janjic Z I 2000 Comments on developments and evaluation of a convection scheme for use in climate models; J. Atmos. Sci. 57 3686.
Kain J S 2004 The Kain–Fritsch convective parameterization: An update; J. Appl. Meteor. 43 170–181.
Kain J S and Fritsch J M 1990 A one-dimensional entraining/detraining plume model and its application in convective parameterization; J. Atmos. Sci. 47 2784–2802.
Kain J S and Fritsch J M 1993 Convective parameterization for mesoscale models: The Kain–Fritsch scheme; The Representation of Cumulus Convection in Numerical Models; Meteor. Monogr. No. 46, Amer. Meteor. Soc., pp. 165–170.
Kessler E 1969 On the distribution and continuity of water substance in atmospheric circulation; Meteor. Monogr. No. 32, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 84p.
Lin Y L, Farley R D and Orville H D 1983 Bulk parameterization of the snow field in a cloud model; J. Climate Appl. Meteor. 22 1065–1092.
Mlawer E J, Taubman S J, Brown P D, Iacono M J and Clough S A 1997 Radiative transfer for inhomogeneous atmospheres: RRTM, a validated correlated-k model for the long wave; J. Geophys. Res. 102D 16,663–16,682.
Rajeevan M, Kesarkar A, Thampi S B, Rao T N, Radhakrishna B and Rajasekhar M 2010 Sensitivity of WRF cloud microphysics to simulations of a severe thunderstorm event over southeast India; Ann. Geophys. 28 603–619.
Thompson G, Rasmussen R M and Manning K 2004 Explicit forecasts of winter precipitation using an improved bulk microphysics scheme. Part I: Description and sensitivity analysis; Mon. Weather Rev. 132 519–542.
Uma K N and Rao T N 2009 Characteristics of vertical velocity cores in different convective systems observed over Gadanki, India; Mon. Weather Rev. 137 954–975.
Yun-Fei F, Zhi-Wei H, Tian-Yi L, Zhong-Ping S and Yu W 2012 Evaluation of WRF Model hydrometeors based on TMI observations using an indirect method; Atmos. Ocean. Sci. Lett. 5(1) 32–37.
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to the Director of SMRC, Mrs. Arjumand Habib for providing an opportunity to take up this program at the centre. The author acknowledges Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division of NCAR for providing WRF-ARW modelling system for the present study. The Author is grateful to National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), USA for making the WRF (WRF-ARW) model available to modeling community. The Grid Analysis and Display System software (GrADS) was used for analytical purposes and displaying figures.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MAHBUB ALAM, M. Impact of cloud microphysics and cumulus parameterization on simulation of heavy rainfall event during 7–9 October 2007 over Bangladesh. J Earth Syst Sci 123, 259–279 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-013-0401-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-013-0401-0