P7 PBL thermodynamic profile assimilation and impacts on land-atmosphere coupling.
Santanello, Joseph, NASA-GSFC, Sara Zhang, SAIC/NASA-GSFC, Dave Turner, NOAA-ESRL, and Patricia Lawston, ESSIC/NASA-GSFC
The planetary
boundary layer (PBL) is a critical link in the coupling of the land and
atmosphere and strongly influences weather prediction and convective initiation.
Unfortunately, routine observations of PBL thermodynamic properties remain
limited in space, time, and instrument capability ( particularly from space).
In this study, we examine the potential impacts of assimilating high quality
PBL temperature and humidity profiles on land-atmosphere (L-A) interactions and
short-term weather prediction using the NASA Unified WRF (NU-WRF) system. PBL
profiles are obtained from ground-based remote sensing radiometer (AERI) and
lidar (DIAL) instruments located over the Southern Great Plains of the U.S, and
assimilation capabilities (EDAS) have been implemented into NU-WRF to
assimilate these products. The case study to be examined is 11 July 2015 at the
Ellis, KS site during the PECAN field campaign. Impacts of temperature and
humidity profile assimilation and the assimilation window itself are examined
In terms of impacts on the simulated PBL profile
evolution, PBL height, and ambient weather (2-meter temperature, humidity,
winds). In addition, impacts on temporal and spatial evolution of L-A feedbacks
between soil moisture, surface fluxes and PBL are examined in the context of
local coupling (LoCo) diagnostics combined with PBL and surface observations.
Overall, this targeted study provides a
foundation for the assessment of future ground-based profiling networks as well
as spaceborne profilers that may be developed over the next decade, and their
potential impacts on NWP and the scientific understanding of L-A interactions.