Using and Evaluating the Efficiency of GRIMs Model in Making Some Simulations of Weather Variables in Three Countries in Middle East: A Snowfall Case Study

Abstract

Predicting weather by numerical models have been used extensively in research works for Middle East, mostly for dust storms, rain showers, and flash floods with a less deal of interest on snow precipitation. In this study, the Global/Regional Integrated Model System (GRIMs) that was developed in South Korea was used to predict a rare snowfall event occurred in three countries in Middle East (Syria, Jordan and Iraq) located between (25-65 oE; 12-42 oN) in year 2008. The main aim of this study was to test GRIMs efficiency, which would be used for the first time in Middle East, to make predictions of weather parameters such as pressure, temperature, and relative humidity especially in the selected area. In addition, the study would investigate the conditions that caused the snowfall event. GRIMs model was installed, compiled, and run on a Linux platform by using NCEP-NCAR reanalysis dataset as initial conditions on 0.5 × 0.5 grid resolution to make simulations for three days at intervals of three hours. The output of the model was evaluated by making comparisons with actual data obtained from the GFS Agency dataset and the model showed its efficiency. The snowfall event was synoptically discussed in details. It was found that the snowfall event was a result of fast succession systems of a strong cold high pressure and then a deep warm low pressure. The high instability in the region had led to form large cumuliform clouds with snow precipitation as a rare event in very long period.