High-resolution Model Analysis Research Articles

Environmental Analysis of Warm-Season First Cloud-To-Ground Lightning Events over the Western Florida Peninsula

Abstract Florida annually leads the United States in lightning-caused fatalities. While many studies have examined the lightning frequency maximum near Cape Canaveral, relatively little attention has been paid to the western Florida peninsula, which features a similar warm-season lightning event density. Of particular concern are first cloud-to-ground (FCG) lightning events in developing thunderstorms, which are difficult to predict with sufficient lead time and can catch people off guard. This study performs an environmental analysis of warm-season (May–September) FCG events (2014–21) across the western Florida peninsula using high-resolution model analysis data, including a comparison to null (No CG) days. FCG events and No CG days are first identified from ground-based lightning data and partitioned into nine synoptic-scale flow regimes. Next, spatiotemporal distributions of FCG events are elucidated for the western Florida peninsula. An ingredients-based analysis shows that the convective environment one hour before FCG events during strong south-southeast flow features the largest amounts of moisture, but the smallest instability values and weak midtropospheric lapse rates, primarily due to warm advection and moisture transport from the Atlantic Ocean. Environments one hour before FCG events in all nine flow regimes feature markedly greater instability values, larger relative humidity values, and steeper midtropospheric lapse rates than do No CG days. Results emphasize that instability and moisture are the key ingredients for warm-season FCG events in the region. Convective parameter statistical distributions and composite soundings populate an online dashboard that can be used by regional forecasters to better predict FCG events and increase alert lead times. Significance Statement Florida annually leads the United States in lightning fatalities. Of particular concern are first cloud-to-ground (FCG) lightning events, which are difficult to forecast and can catch people off guard especially during outdoor recreational activities and labor. We investigate the environmental characteristics of warm-season FCG events across the western Florida peninsula. Among nine regional flow patterns, some are associated with a less moist and more unstable atmosphere one hour before an FCG event, while other regimes exhibit a more moist and less unstable atmosphere. However, regardless of flow pattern, FCG events consistently feature substantially greater instability and moisture than do null events. Key findings are displayed on an online dashboard, to better inform regional forecasters.

Analysis of a heavy rainfall event over Beijing during 21–22 July 2012 based on high resolution model analyses and forecasts

The heaviest rainfall over 61 yr hit Beijing during 21–22 July 2012. Characterized by great rainfall amount and intensity, wide range, and high impact, this record-breaking heavy rainfall caused dozens of deaths and extensive damage. Despite favorable synoptic conditions, operational forecasts underestimated the precipitation amount and were late at predicting the rainfall start time. To gain a better understanding of the performance of mesoscale models, verification of high-resolution forecasts and analyses from the WRF-based BJ-RUCv2.0 model with a horizontal grid spacing of 3 km is carried out. The results show that water vapor is very rich and a quasi-linear precipitation system produces a rather concentrated rain area. Moreover, model forecasts are first verified statistically using equitable threat score and BIAS score. The BJ-RUCv2.0 forecasts under-predict the rainfall with southwestward displacement error and time delay of the extreme precipitation. Further quantitative analysis based on the contiguous rain area method indicates that major errors for total precipitation (> 5 mm h−1) are due to inaccurate precipitation location and pattern, while forecast errors for heavy rainfall (> 20 mm h−1) mainly come from precipitation intensity. Finally, the possible causes for the poor model performance are discussed through diagnosing large-scale circulation and physical parameters (water vapor flux and instability conditions) of the BJ-RUCv2.0 model output.

Dynamical and chemical characteristics of tropospheric intrusions observed during START08

[1] Intrusions of air from the tropical upper troposphere into the extratropical stratosphere above the subtropical jet potentially have a significant impact on the composition of the lowermost stratosphere (the stratospheric part of the “middle world”). We present an analysis of tropospheric intrusion events observed during the Stratosphere-Troposphere Analyses of Regional Transport 2008 (START08) experiment using kinematic and chemical diagnostics. The transport processes operating during each event are discussed using high-resolution model analyses and backward trajectory calculations. Each intrusion observed during START08 can be related to a Rossby wavebreaking event over the Pacific Ocean. Trajectory analysis shows that the intruding air masses can be traced back to the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. In situ chemical observations of the tropospheric intrusions are used to estimate the mixing time scales of the observed intrusions through use of a simple box model and trace species with different photochemical lifetimes. We estimate that the time scale for an intrusion to mix with the background stratospheric air is 5 to 6 days. Detailed analysis of small-scale features with tropospheric characteristics observed in the stratosphere suggests frequent irreversible transport associated with tropospheric intrusions. Trace gas distributions and correlations are consistent with the dynamics of the high-resolution NCEP GFS analyses, suggesting that these features are captured by the GFS assimilation and forecast system. A global analysis of intrusion events observed during the START08 time period (April–June 2008) is also given.

An Observational and High-Resolution Model Analysis of Gale Wind Events in the Gulf of California

Abstract The Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, provides high-seas forecasts to portions of the eastern Pacific Ocean, including the Gulf of California. These forecasts include wind velocity and significant wave height forecasts and are initiated by forecast winds of at least 20 kt (10.3 m s−1) or significant wave heights of at least 8 ft (2.4 m). The Gulf of California is a commonly traveled area, where winds are highly modulated by nearby terrain variations. This provides a unique forecast challenge, especially in the absence of regular surface observations. In October and November 2008, the NOAA R/V David Starr Jordan was stationed in the Gulf of California and occasionally reported gale force winds [34–47 kt (17.5–24.2 m s−1)], which operational models regularly missed. A ship log of these events provided the basis for determining mean and anomaly fields for a handful of meteorological variables, from which a conceptual model for the synoptic-scale environment supporting these events is presented. An index based on the mean sea level pressure (MSLP) difference between Ely, Nevada, and Yuma, Arizona, was developed to measure the potential for gales, which was found to be statistically significant in discriminating between “gale” and “marginal wind” events. The fifth-generation NCAR–Pennsylvania State University Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to conduct doubly nested high-resolution simulations centered on the Gulf of California. These simulations appeared to resolve the gales better than traditional global model guidance, lending credence toward the need for high-resolution modeling in areas of highly variable terrain. Relatively small errors were found in MM5 output using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) data as verification.