Microphysics Research Articles

Performance evaluation of WRF for extreme flood forecasts in a coastal urban environment

Increasing incidences of flash floods highlight the need for a reliable flood forecasting system to minimize the losses of lives and property. The most formidable challenge of flood forecasting is the availability of high resolution and accurate precipitation forecast despite having a sophisticated 3-ways flood hydrodynamic model. Global rainfall forecasting products are of coarse resolution, which makes them less reliable for urban flood forecasting. Therefore, high-resolution regional weather forecasting models such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are used to generate fine-scale rainfall estimates. Precipitation forecasting from the WRF model is highly dependent on model configuration, especially cumulus (CU) parameterization and microphysics (MP) schemes. In the present study, three physics schemes that include two urban, four CU and three MP schemes of WRF model are investigated for extreme precipitation estimates. The six events comprised of two of the highest rainfall events of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 have been selected for investigation over Mumbai, India. The events are simulated using initial and boundary conditions from the ERA-Interim Reanalysis dataset. The simulated rainfall events are evaluated against the observations from 28 automatic weather stations over Mumbai. The analysis suggests that building environment parameterization (BEP) scheme influences the spatial pattern of the rainfall along with the reduction in rainfall bias. Further, CU schemes affect the magnitude of the rainfall while MP schemes have a lesser impact than the former. WRF simulations with BEP urban scheme, Grell-Devenyi 3D CU, and Lin MP scheme performs best (out of selected combinations). Besides, the best performing scheme has been tested with initial and boundary conditions from the global forecasting system (GFS) for the same events; the results have shown improved rainfall estimates than the GFS forecasts.

Aerosols impact on the convective and non-convective rain distribution over the Indian region: Results from WRF-Chem simulation

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) is used to simulate rainfall pattern over the Indian landmass during a normal monsoon year (June–September 2010). Sensitivity analysis is performed using three different microphysical (MP) schemes (Thompson, Morrison, and Lin) to simulate the rainfall pattern and distribution over India. A significant difference in the rainfall amount, as well as distribution, is observed among the MP schemes, despite using the same model configuration and the meteorological and chemical initial and boundary condition. Lin MP scheme performed better than other schemes in simulating the rainfall over the Indian domain. Heavy rainfall along the foothills of the Himalayas, the mountainous coastal region of western India, and the northeastern part of India and sparse rainfall over northwest India are captured realistically in the model, which agrees well with the observed rainfall pattern over India. The spatial distribution of aerosol optical depths retrieved from the MODIS satellites is broadly well simulated by the model.The model simulated convective and non-convective rainfall characteristics over the Indian landmass are found to be consistent with the monsoon precipitation climatology. It is shown that the change in both convective and non-convective rainfall due to aerosols and chemistry is non-negligible over India during monsoon season. The total rainfall is found to increase significantly over the entire Western Ghats and some part of northeast India, while it is diminished over the northwest, north and east India when aerosol chemistry effects are considered in the model simulation. Additional analysis is performed to simulate the perturbations in convective and non-convective rainfall due to aerosols (e.g., dust, sea salt, black carbon etc.). Results show that the effect of aerosols on convective and non-convective rainfall distribution over India is non-linear. Depending on the meteorological conditions, topography, and the type of aerosol, the aerosol impact and feedback on monsoon rainfall can be positive, negative, or neutral.

Assessment of WRF microphysics schemes in simulation of extreme precipitation events based on microwave radiative signatures

ABSTRACTPassive microwave radiometric signatures are affected by microphysical properties and hydrometeor distributions. Various microphysical properties of hydrometeors assumed in numerical simulations of precipitating clouds cause the different emission and scattering signals. This study compares the radiometric signatures obtained from five microphysics (MP) schemes of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model during the simulation of eight typhoons with respect to Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager observations. The MP schemes include the Thompson (MP8), Morrison two moment (MP10), WRF Double Moment 6 Class (MP16), National Severe Storms Laboratory 2 moment (MP17), and Thompson aerosol-aware (MP28) schemes. The results show that most of the schemes produce insufficient emission/scattering signals from liquid/ice particles over the same rain rate compared to the observations. It was also confirmed that, depending on the schemes, the scattering signals appear to be more variable than the emission signals. In general, MP16 is more frequently identified as the scheme with the smallest biases in both low- and high-frequency channels for individual orbits. However, the results demonstrate that one scheme does not work best in all cases examined here. This suggests that the characteristics assumed in MP schemes should be carefully understood to simulate precipitating clouds. Moreover, comparisons of the radiometric signatures from simulations and observations might be used to understand the uncertainties caused by incorrect assumptions of the microphysical properties of precipitating clouds.

Does convection-permitting simulate better rainfall distribution and extreme over Guinean coast and surroundings?

This research work focuses on the problem of climate simulation of rainfall over West Africa and particularly over coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea by Regional Climate Models. The sensitivities of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model were tested for changes in horizontal resolution (convection permitting versus parameterized) on the replication of West African monsoon for the year 2014. Sensitivity test was also performed for response of rainfall to changes in microphysics (MP) and planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes. Generally, the result shows that WRF is able to replicates rainfall distribution with an adequate representation of the dynamical features of West African monsoon system. The high-resolution (wrf-4km) shows dry bias along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea but generally outperforms wrf-24km run especially in replication of the extreme rainfall distribution. The dry bias along the coastal area is suggested to not to be only related to convection but mostly to microphysics and PBL parameterisation schemes. Differences were noticed between the dynamics of WRF and ERA-interim outputs despite the use of spectral nudging in the experiment which then suggest strong interactions between scales. These differences were observed to be restricted mainly to the low-layer monsoon flow in JJA. Both runs at 24 and 4 km hardly simulate the typical diurnal distribution of rainfall. The sensitivity of WRF to MP (only sophisticated MP were tested) and PBL reveals a stronger impact of PBL than MP on rainfall distribution and the most significant added value over the Guinean coast and surroundings area was provided by the configurations using non-local PBL scheme (as ACM2). The changes in MP and PBL schemes in general seem to have less effect on the explicit runs (wrf-4km) in the replication of the rainfall over the Gulf of Guinea and the surroundings seaboard.

Characteristics of Environment Condition and Cloud Microphysics during Heavy Wet Thunderstorms at Guanzhong in Mid Summer

Characteristics of Environment Condition and Cloud Microphysics during Heavy Wet Thunderstorms at Guanzhong in Mid Summer

Assessment of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for simulation of extreme rainfall events in the upper Ganga Basin

Abstract. Reliable estimates of extreme rainfall events are necessary for an accurate prediction of floods. Most of the global rainfall products are available at a coarse resolution, rendering them less desirable for extreme rainfall analysis. Therefore, regional mesoscale models such as the advanced research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are often used to provide rainfall estimates at fine grid spacing. Modelling heavy rainfall events is an enduring challenge, as such events depend on multi-scale interactions, and the model configurations such as grid spacing, physical parameterization and initialization. With this background, the WRF model is implemented in this study to investigate the impact of different processes on extreme rainfall simulation, by considering a representative event that occurred during 15–18 June 2013 over the Ganga Basin in India, which is located at the foothills of the Himalayas. This event is simulated with ensembles involving four different microphysics (MP), two cumulus (CU) parameterizations, two planetary boundary layers (PBLs) and two land surface physics options, as well as different resolutions (grid spacing) within the WRF model. The simulated rainfall is evaluated against the observations from 18 rain gauges and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) 3B42RT version 7 data. From the analysis, it should be noted that the choice of MP scheme influences the spatial pattern of rainfall, while the choice of PBL and CU parameterizations influences the magnitude of rainfall in the model simulations. Further, the WRF run with Goddard MP, Mellor–Yamada–Janjic PBL and Betts–Miller–Janjic CU scheme is found to perform best in simulating this heavy rain event. The selected configuration is evaluated for several heavy to extremely heavy rainfall events that occurred across different months of the monsoon season in the region. The model performance improved through incorporation of detailed land surface processes involving prognostic soil moisture evolution in Noah scheme compared to the simple Slab model. To analyse the effect of model grid spacing, two sets of downscaling ratios – (i) 1 : 3, global to regional (G2R) scale and (ii) 1 : 9, global to convection-permitting scale (G2C) – are employed. Results indicate that a higher downscaling ratio (G2C) causes higher variability and consequently large errors in the simulations. Therefore, G2R is adopted as a suitable choice for simulating heavy rainfall event in the present case study. Further, the WRF-simulated rainfall is found to exhibit less bias when compared with the NCEP FiNaL (FNL) reanalysis data.

Sensitivity of Numerical Simulations of a Mesoscale Convective System to Ice Hydrometeors in Bulk Microphysical Parameterization

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and their associated cloud properties are the important factors that influence the aviation activities, yet they present a forecasting challenge in numerical weather prediction. In this study, the sensitivity of numerical simulations of an MCS over the US Southern Great Plains to ice hydrometeors in bulk microphysics (MP) schemes has been investigated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. It is found that the simulated structure, life cycle, cloud coverage, and precipitation of the convective system as well as its associated cold pools are sensitive to three selected MP schemes, namely, the WRF single-moment 6-class (WSM6), WRF double-moment 6-class (WDM6, with the double-moment treatment of warm-rain only), and Morrison double-moment (MORR, with the double-moment representation of both warm-rain and ice) schemes. Compared with observations, the WRF simulation with WSM6 only produces a less organized convection structure with a short lifetime, while WDM6 can produce the structure and length of the MCS very well. Both simulations heavily underestimate the precipitation amount, the height of the radar echo top, and stratiform cloud fractions. With MORR, the model performs well in predicting the lifetime, cloud coverage, echo top, and precipitation amount of the convection. Overall results demonstrate the importance of including double-moment representation of ice hydrometeors along with warm-rain. Additional experiments are performed to further examine the role of ice hydrometeors in numerical simulations of the MCS. Results indicate that replacing graupel with hail in the MORR scheme improves the prediction of the convective structure, especially in the convective core region.

Application of the Pola r WRF model for Svalbard - sensitivity to planetary boundary layer, radiation and microphysics schemes

Application of the Pola r WRF model for Svalbard - sensitivity to planetary boundary layer, radiation and microphysics schemes

Analysis of Extreme Rainfall Event with Different Microphysics and Parameterization Schemes in WRF Model

In the present study, the imitation of heavy rainfall event which occurred over Jharkhand during 18 August 2016 was taken as a case study. Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model has been utilized for this study. National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) analysis data is compared with GSMaP data with different combination of physical parameterization scheme like microphysics (MP) and cumulus parameterization (CP). In the present study, three MP schemes: Kessler scheme, Lin et al. scheme and WRF Single-moment 6-class scheme with combination of three CP schemes: Betts-Miller-Janjic scheme, Multi-scale Kain-Fritsch scheme and New simplified Arakawa-Schubert scheme have been used. The model predicted humidity, temperature and precipitation were compared with the GSMaP product. The model nicely depicted the cloud pattern and recognized the rain event spatially. The obtained result shows that the model overestimates the precipitation for all the schemes.

Sensitivity of the weather research and forecasting model to parameterization schemes for regional climate of Nile River Basin

Regional climate models (RCMs) have been used to simulate rainfall at relatively high spatial and temporal resolutions useful for sustainable water resources planning, design and management. In this study, the sensitivity of the RCM, weather research and forecasting (WRF), in modeling the regional climate of the Nile River Basin (NRB) was investigated using 31 combinations of different physical parameterization schemes which include cumulus (Cu), microphysics (MP), planetary boundary layer (PBL), land-surface model (LSM) and radiation (Ra) schemes. Using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) ERA-Interim reanalysis data as initial and lateral boundary conditions, WRF was configured to model the climate of NRB at a resolution of 36 km with 30 vertical levels. The 1999–2001 simulations using WRF were compared with satellite data combined with ground observation and the NCEP reanalysis data for 2 m surface air temperature (T2), rainfall, short- and longwave downward radiation at the surface (SWRAD, LWRAD). Overall, WRF simulated more accurate T2 and LWRAD (with correlation coefficients >0.8 and low root-mean-square error) than SWRAD and rainfall for the NRB. Further, the simulation of rainfall is more sensitive to PBL, Cu and MP schemes than other schemes of WRF. For example, WRF simulated less biased rainfall with Kain-Fritsch combined with MYJ than with YSU as the PBL scheme. The simulation of T2 is more sensitive to LSM and Ra than to Cu, PBL and MP schemes selected, SWRAD is more sensitive to MP and Ra than to Cu, LSM and PBL schemes, and LWRAD is more sensitive to LSM, Ra and PBL than Cu, and MP schemes. In summary, the following combination of schemes simulated the most representative regional climate of NRB: WSM3 microphysics, KF cumulus, MYJ PBL, RRTM longwave radiation and Dudhia shortwave radiation schemes, and Noah LSM. The above configuration of WRF coupled to the Noah LSM has also been shown to simulate representative regional climate of NRB over 1980–2001 which include a combination of wet and dry years of the NRB.

Sensitivity of Convection Schemes and Microphysics in Mesoscale Simulations of Squall Line Observed During the AMMA Campaign Using the WRF Model

In this paper, a sensitivity study of convection schemes and cloud microphysics is performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. It concerns the mesoscale simulation of the squall line observed during the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis campaign on September 22nd, 2006. Four convection schemes (Kain-Fritsch, Grell-Devenyi, Tietke and New Simplified Arakawa-Schubert) and five microphysics schemes (WRF Single-Moment 3-class (WSM3), WRF Single-Moment 5-class (WSM5), WRF Single-Moment 6-class (WSM6), Thompson and NSSL2-moment) are used. Each microphysics scheme is associated with a convection scheme, giving twenty combinations. The goal is to find the combination able to provide a realistic representation of the meteorological fields associated to the studied squall line, especially those of precipitation. The New Simplified Arakawa-Schubert convection scheme combined either with the WSM6 microphysics scheme, either with the WSM5 microphysics scheme or Thompson scheme was found to give a result closer to observation. The study also confirms that convection schemes have much more influence than microphysics on precipitation heights.

Simulation of Polarimetric Radar Variables from 2013 CAPS Spring Experiment Storm-Scale Ensemble Forecasts and Evaluation of Microphysics Schemes

Abstract Polarimetric radar variables are simulated from members of the 2013 Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) Storm-Scale Ensemble Forecasts (SSEF) with varying microphysics (MP) schemes and compared with observations. The polarimetric variables provide information on hydrometeor types and particle size distributions (PSDs), neither of which can be obtained through reflectivity (Z) alone. The polarimetric radar simulator pays close attention to how each MP scheme [including single- (SM) and double-moment (DM) schemes] treats hydrometeor types and PSDs. The recent dual-polarization upgrade to the entire WSR-88D network provides nationwide polarimetric observations, allowing for direct evaluation of the simulated polarimetric variables. Simulations for a mesoscale convective system (MCS) and supercell cases are examined. Five different MP schemes—Thompson, DM Milbrandt and Yau (MY), DM Morrison, WRF DM 6-category (WDM6), and WRF SM 6-category (WSM6)—are used in the ensemble forecasts. Forecasts using the partially DM Thompson and fully DM MY and Morrison schemes better replicate the MCS structure and stratiform precipitation coverage, as well as supercell structure compared to WDM6 and WSM6. Forecasts using the MY and Morrison schemes better replicate observed polarimetric signatures associated with size sorting than those using the Thompson, WDM6, and WSM6 schemes, in which such signatures are either absent or occur at abnormal locations. Several biases are suggested in these schemes, including too much wet graupel in MY, Morrison, and WDM6; a small raindrop bias in WDM6 and WSM6; and the underforecast of liquid water content in regions of pure rain for all schemes.

Study of NWP parameterizations on extreme precipitation events over Basque Country

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), like other numerical models, can make use of several parameterization schemes. The purpose of this study is to determine how available cumulus parameterization (CP) and microphysics (MP) schemes in the WRF model simulate extreme precipitation events in the Basque Country. Possible combinations among two CP schemes (Kain–Fritsch and Betts–Miller–Janjic) and five MP (WSM3, Lin, WSM6, new Thompson and WDM6) schemes were tested. A set of simulations, corresponding to 21st century extreme precipitation events that have caused significant flood episodes have been compared with point observational data coming from the Basque Country Automatic Weather Station Mesonetwork. Configurations with Kain–Fritsch CP scheme produce better quantity of precipitation forecast (QPF) than BMJ scheme configurations. Depending on the severity level and the river basin analysed different MP schemes show the best behaviours, demonstrating that there is not a unique configuration that solve exactly all the studied events.

A Legislação Aparente na Construção de uma Constitucionalização Simbólica e seus Efeitos na Proteção ao Meio Ambiente

The development of a democratic state requires beyond recovery, the effectiveness of fundamental rights in the present Constitutional Charter. In this context, it is proposed to discuss and analyze the normative positivist system, from a biopolitical approach and the microphysics of power, seeking to uncover a possible ideological influence on legislative processes. The aim is also based on the concept of symbolic legislation, examine some of the content of legislation that lead to inefficiency or distortion of results normatively proposed, aiming only to serve ideological purposes well defined. Search in that context, analyzing the speeches of lawmaking and the results achieved normative, defining a concept of law apparent, to verify the use of law as an instrument to support the interests of a ruling class, through a process of universalization and apparent abstract ideas, which camouflage the concrete existence of particular goals of a particular class. The apparent use of such legislation through a biopolitical process may be understood as a way of calming a social order to conduct the maintenance of appropriate interests. The production of an apparent law that integrates and constitutes a legal infra, ultimately influence the applicability of constitutional norms, often functioning as a processing agent interpreting the Constitution. Finally, check that this apparent law produces direct effects and hinders protection actions to the environment.

수도권 대기질 모델링 정확도 향상을 위한 WRF모델링: 계절별 물리옵션 민감도 연구

In order to improve the prediction of the regional air quality modeling in the Seoul metropolitan area, a sensitivity analysis using two PBL and microphysics (MP) options of the WRF model was performed during four seasons. The results from four sets of the simulation experiments (EXPs) showed that meteorological variables (especially wind field) were highly sensitive to the choice of PBL options (YSU or MYJ) and no significant differences were found depending on MP options (WDM6 or Morrison) regardless of specific time periods, i.e. day and night, during four seasons. Consequently, the EXPs being composed of YSU PBL option were identified to produce better results for meteorological elements (especially wind field) regardless of seasons. On the other hand, the accuracy of all simulations for summer and winter was somewhat lower than those for spring and autumn and the effect according to physics options was highly volatile by geographical characteristics of the observation site.

EVALUATION OF WRF PARAMETERIZATIONS IN SIMULATING SEASONAL PRECIPITATION OVER JAPAN

The impact of parameterization scheme usage to precipitation was investigated in WRF model for simulating 24-km seasonal precipitation over Japan. Budget profile analysis was used to diagnose unresolved heating/drying processes controlled primarily by cumulus (CU) parameterizations, and how coupling of CU scheme with boundary layer (BL), microphysics (MP) and radiation (RAD) schemes modulate the unresolved processes that consequently impacts simulated precipitation. Results showed hothumid JJA precipitation is sensitive to CU scheme as shown by the large variation in PCC and SDR scores of different schemes validated against APHRODITE data. And, distinct structure of heating/drying profiles were seen from each CU scheme. The CU scheme coupling with BL scheme showed larger modulation on heating/drying profiles and larger PCC-SDR variation as compared to coupling with MP-RAD schemes. This provides a systematic evaluation of scheme usage and its combinations in simulating precipitation.

Numerical simulations of heavy rainfall over central Korea on 21 September 2010 using the WRF model

On 21 September 2010, heavy rainfall with a local maximum of 259 mm d−1 occurred near Seoul, South Korea. We examined the ability of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in reproducing this disastrous rainfall event and identified the role of two physical processes: planetary boundary layer (PBL) and microphysics (MPS) processes. The WRF model was forced by 6-hourly National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Final analysis (FNL) data for 36 hours form 1200 UTC 20 to 0000 UTC 22 September 2010. Twenty-five experiments were performed, consisting of five different PBL schemes—Yonsei University (YSU), Mellor-Yamada-Janjic (MYJ), Quasi Normal Scale Elimination (QNSE), Bougeault and Lacarrere (BouLac), and University of Washington (UW)—and five different MPS schemes—WRF Single-Moment 6-class (WSM6), Goddard, Thompson, Milbrandt 2-moments, and Morrison 2-moments. As expected, there was a specific combination of MPS and PBL schemes that showed good skill in forecasting the precipitation. However, there was no specific PBL or MPS scheme that outperformed the others in all aspects. The experiments with the UW PBL or Thompson MPS scheme showed a relatively small amount of precipitation. Analyses form the sensitivity experiments confirmed that the spatial distribution of the simulated precipitation was dominated by the PBL processes, whereas the MPS processes determined the amount of rainfall. It was also found that the temporal evolution of the precipitation was influenced more by the PBL processes than by the MPS processes.

Variability of West African monsoon patterns generated by a WRF multi-physics ensemble

The credibility of regional climate simulations over West Africa stands and falls with the ability to reproduce the West African monsoon (WAM) whose precipitation plays a pivotal role for people’s livelihood. In this study, we simulate the WAM for the wet year 1999 with a 27-member multi-physics ensemble of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. We investigate the inter-member differences in a process-based manner in order to extract generalizable information on the behavior of the tested cumulus (CU), microphysics (MP), and planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes. Precipitation, temperature and atmospheric dynamics are analyzed in comparison to the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) rainfall estimates, the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) gridded gauge-analysis, the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) gridded temperature product and the forcing data (ERA-Interim) to explore interdependencies of processes leading to a certain WAM regime. We find that MP and PBL schemes contribute most to the ensemble spread (147 mm month−1) for monsoon precipitation over the study region. Furthermore, PBL schemes have a strong influence on the movement of the WAM rainband because of their impact on the cloud fraction, that ranges from 8 to 20 % at 600 hPa during August. More low- and mid-level clouds result in less incoming radiation and a weaker monsoon. Ultimately, we identify the differing intensities of the moist Hadley-type meridional circulation that connects the monsoon winds to the Tropical Easterly Jet as the main source for inter-member differences. The ensemble spread of Sahel precipitation and associated dynamics for August 1999 is comparable to the observed inter-annual spread (1979–2010) between dry and wet years, emphasizing the strong potential impact of regional processes and the need for a careful selection of model parameterizations.

Sensitivity testing of WRF parameterizations on air–sea interaction and its impact on water cycle in the Gulf of Guinea

A strong ocean–atmosphere coupling exists in the eastern equatorial region of the tropical Atlantic at intraseasonal time‐scales, with a significant contribution in the functioning and partitioning of the water cycle in spring over the ocean, as well as later in the season over West Africa. Uncertainties in simulating the air–sea interaction in the Gulf of Guinea and its impact on the water cycle are studied using modelling experiments during spring–summer 2006 with the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF). Tested parameters include physical packages of cumulus (Cu), planetary boundary‐layer (PBL), microphysics (MP) and radiative (RAD) schemes. The simulations are compared with satellite‐based observations, ship‐based radiosonde data and state‐of‐the‐art atmospheric model reanalyses. Results show that cumulus, microphysics and radiative parametrizations exert a large influence on the simulated seasonal distribution of regional convective rainfall. Non‐local PBL schemes are determinant to simulate the correct surface wind pattern and water vapor distribution in order to get realistic precipitation from intra‐seasonal to diurnal scales, especially over the ocean where the nocturnal rainfall representation is improved.

Effect of the better representation of the cloud ice-nucleation in WRF microphysics schemes: A case study of a severe storm in India

In the present study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to simulate the features associated with a severe thunderstorm over India while examining the sensitivity of the simulation to three microphysical (MP) schemes (WDM6, Thompson and Morrison). The model simulated results (e.g., surface temperature, relative humidity, pressure, reflectivity and rainfall) for all sensitivity experiments are compared with observations (e.g., AWS, TRMM and DWR). There are major differences in the simulations of the thunderstorm among the MP schemes. The Morrison scheme simulates CAPE, surface properties, wind speed, vertical velocity, reflectivity and precipitation reasonably well, compared to other MP schemes, though there are some uncertainties. Therefore, an attempt is made to improve the simulation through modifications in the Morrison scheme. Different heterogeneous ice nucleation formulations have been tested into the Morrison double-moment bulk cloud MP scheme. We hypothesize that the improvement in cloud ice generation and its subsequent influence in cloud microphysics and dynamics through latent heat release may eventually lead to an improvement in thunderstorm simulation. The results demonstrate that the modification in the microphysical scheme better reproduces CAPE, wind speed, maximum reflectivity, vertical velocity and cloud hydrometeors (ice and mixed-phase processes) than the default Morrison and other schemes and compared to observations. The modified MP-scheme produces greater latent heating due to deposition in the upper troposphere and gives rise to increased updraft. This seems to be one of the most responsible processes that enhance the intensity of the storm compared to existing microphysical schemes. This study therefore provides a framework for the improvement of thunderstorm simulation through the modification of the cloud ice parameterization of the model.