Modeling the Impacts of Urbanization and Open Water Surface on Heavy Convective Rainfall: A Case Study over the Emerging Xiong'an City, China

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, we examine the impacts of urbanization and open water surface on heavy convective rainfall based on numerical modeling experiments using the Weather Research and Forecasting model. We focus on a severe storm event over the emerging Xiong'an City in northern China. The storm event consists of two episodes and features intense moisture transport and strong large‐scale forcing. A set of Weather Research and Forecasting simulations were implemented to examine the sensitivity of spatiotemporal rainfall variability in and around the urban area to different land use scenarios. Modeling results highlight contrasting roles of open water and urban surface in dictating space‐time organizations of convective rainfall under strong large‐scale forcing. Dynamic perturbation to atmospheric forcing dominates the impacts of open water and urban surface on spatial rainfall distribution during the second storm episode, while urban surface promotes early initiation of convection during the first storm episode through enhanced buoyant energy. Open water surface contributes to convective inhibition through evaporative cooling but can enhance moist convection when the impact of urban surface is also considered. The synergistic effect of open water and urban surface leads to rainfall enhancement both over and in the downwind urban area. Changes in rainfall accumulation with different spatial extents of urban coverage highlight strong dependence of urban‐induced rainfall anomalies on urbanization stages. Our results provide improved understandings on hydrometeorological impacts due to emerging cities in complex physiographic settings and emphasize the importance of atmospheric forcing in urban rainfall modification studies.