Jones, Alexandra L., Larry Di Girolamo, Brian Jewett,
and Robert Rauber, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Since large eddy
simulations (LES) resolve cumulus dynamical processes, they provide an
excellent environment for testing hypotheses that increase understanding of
trade wind cumulus (TWCu) response to a given forcing, which may lead to better
parameterizations for global climate models. The Advanced Research WRF (ARW)Ős
publicly available source code, myriad physics package extensions, and large
user community make it desirable for this use. Before using the ARW to test TWCu sensitivities, it must be
benchmarked against observations and LES intercomparison results. The Global
Water and Energy Experiment (GEWEX) Global Atmospheric System Studies (GASS)
panel has been conducting LES intercomparison studies, however the ARW has not
been included.
Modifications to the ARW
LES initialization and dynamical-core modules were required to specify the
Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological EXperiment (BOMEX) intercomparison
initial conditions and large scale forcings, such as surface moisture flux,
friction velocity, and tendencies in potential temperature, moisture, and
momentum due to subsidence, radiative cooling, advection, and large scale
pressure gradients. A summary of the changes made to the ARW and analysis of
the ARW results in the context of the intercomparison results will be
presented. Future work includes analysis of the Rain In Cumulus over Ocean
(RICO) intercomparison case.