Gonzalez, Jorge E., The City College of New York, Bob
Bornstein, San Jose State University, and Estatio Gutierrez, San Jose State
University
WRF mesoscale model is
coupled to a multi-layer urban canopy model that permits a direct interaction
of urban canyons with the PBL.
This parameterization recognizes three different urban surfaces to
account for thermal and mechanical effects of the urban environment including a
building scale energy model to account for anthropogenic heat contributions due
to indoor-outdoor temperature differences. High resolution (250m.) urban canopy parameters from the US
National Urban Database are employed to initialize the multi-layer urban
parameterization. This new urban
parameterization, referred is assessed for several case studies, in
anticipation of next generational weather forecasting systems for complex urban
environments. The first case is
the evaluation of the evolution and the resulting urban heat island formation
associated to a 3-day heat wave in New York City (NYC) during the summer of
2010. Data from a dense network of
surface weather stations, wind profilers and Lidar measurements are compared to
model outputs over Manhattan during the 3-days event. The thermal and drag
effects of buildings represented in the multilayer urban canopy model improves
simulations over urban regions.
The accuracy of the energy simulation is further assessed against single
unit building energy models with positive results with new approach. Results are further used to quantify
the energy consumption of the buildings during the heat wave due to air
conditioning.