The Hourly Precipitation Frequencies in the Tropical-Belt Version of WRF: Sensitivity to Cumulus Parameterization and Radiation Schemes

Abstract

AbstractThe sensitivity of hourly precipitation to cumulus parameterization and radiation schemes is explored by using the tropical-belt configuration of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The domain covers the entire tropical region from 45°S to 45°N with a grid spacing of about 45 km. A series of 5-yr simulations with four cumulus parameterization schemes [new Tiedtke (NT), Kain–Fritsch (KF), new SAS (NS), and Tiedtke (TK)] and two radiation schemes (RRTMG and CAM) are carried out. We focus on the frequencies of hourly precipitation above three thresholds (0.02 mm h−1 = light drizzle rate; 0.2 mm h−1 = moderate rate; and 2 mm h−1 = heavy rate) between the observed CMORPH products and simulations. The sensitivity is higher for precipitation frequency than amount, and frequency is dominated by the cumulus parameterization. Frequencies above the moderate rate are well reproduced, whereas frequencies above the other two rates present large deviations. No combination of physical schemes is found to perform best in reproducing the frequencies above all thresholds. Simulations using the NT and NS schemes show higher precipitation frequencies above the light drizzle rate and lower precipitation frequencies above the heavy rate than those simulations using the KF and TK schemes. Precipitation frequency is higher when reproduced by experiments using the RRTMG scheme than those using the CAM scheme, except for frequencies above the light rate over oceans. The overestimation of frequency is mainly caused by too-frequent convective rainfall. The results imply that the triggering based on the vertical velocity may increase the occurrence of a rain event and that CAPE-based closure may increase the heavy precipitation frequency in the cumulus parameterization.