Barlage, Michael, Mukul Tewari, Keving Manning, Fei
Chen, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Guo-Yue Niu, Biosphere 2 at The
University of Arizona, Zong-Liang Yang, The University of Texas- Austin
The Noah-Multi-Physics
(Noah-MP) land surface model (LSM) is a new land surface physics option
available in WRF version 3.4. Noah-MP contains multiple options for key land
processes and improves upon some Noah LSM limitations. Noah-MP contains a
separate vegetation canopy that uses a two-stream radiation transfer approach
along with three options for shading effects. Noah-MP contains a multi-layer
snow pack separated from vegetation with liquid water storage and melt/refreeze
capability and a snow-interception model describing loading/unloading,
melt/refreeze, and sublimation of canopy-intercepted snow. Multiple options are
available for surface water infiltration and runoff, and groundwater transfer
and storage including water table depth to an unconfined aquifer. Vegetation
can be prescribed both horizontally and vertically or can be predicted using a
Ball-Berry photosynthesis-based stomatal resistance with a dynamic vegetation
model that allocates carbon to vegetation (leaf, stem, wood and root) and soil
carbon pools. The Noah-MP options are described, compared amongst each other,
and contrasted with the analogous Noah capabilities. Results are shown
demonstrating the additional processes that can be considered when using
Noah-MP and situations, like the presence of snow under a vegetation canopy,
where using Noah-MP results in superior land-atmosphere coupling.