Three‐dimensional simulation of the ASTEX Lagrangian 1 field experiment with a regional numerical weather prediction model

Abstract

AbstractThe Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) first Lagrangian experiment (Lagrangian 1) is here simulated with a modified version of the regional forecast model HIRLAM (High Resolution Limited Area Model). The main modification is that moist turbulent fluxes are accounted for in the model. Trajectory calculations show good agreement with earlier estimations. The initially rather shallow stratocumulus topped marine boundary layer is deepening along the trajectory, and in the end cumulus clouds are formed that penetrate the boundary‐layer top. The model predicts this change in cloudiness, but the boundary layer is too shallow in the model. A simulation with modified initial conditions shows improved results, but is still too slow in increasing the boundary‐layer depth. Additional factors that influence the boundary‐layer growth are: the increase in sea surface temperatures, lower modelled wind speeds, low entrainment rates due to coarse vertical resolution, and synoptic‐scale subsidence.An anticyclone at the surface moved slightly northward during the simulation. The anticyclone was accompanied at 500 hPa by a deepening cyclone and, therefore, one would expect synoptic subsidence in the area of the Lagrangian 1. The modelled negative vertical wind component at the boundary‐layer top oscillates, and this is examined using spectral analysis. The results show that the vertical velocity is influenced by cumulus clouds on time‐scales up to 15 h with a peak at 9 h. The horizontal and vertical wavelengths of the vertical velocity disturbances are estimated from model output to be 400–500 km and 6–10 km, respectively. Using the estimated vertical wavelength and linear theory for hydrostatic inertia–gravity waves, a horizontal wavelength of 350–550 km was calculated for a frequency of 9 h. The model results thus indicate that these types of waves are responsible for the undulating vertical velocity.Finally, an estimation of the synoptic‐scale vertical velocity is calculated by filtering out all scales smaller than 15 h from the vertical velocity signal. This results in subsidence both at the beginning and the end of the Lagrangian with vertical velocities between −0.1 and −0.4 cm s−1. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society