Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1037
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1037
17 Oct 2022
 | 17 Oct 2022

How well does a convection-permitting climate model represent the reverse orographic effect of extreme hourly precipitation?

Eleonora Dallan, Francesco Marra, Giorgia Fosser, Marco Marani, Giuseppe Formetta, Christoph Schär, and Marco Borga

Abstract. Estimating future short-duration extreme precipitation in mountainous regions is fundamental for risk management. High-resolution convection-permitting models (CPMs) represent the state-of-the-art for these projections as they resolve convective processes key to short-duration extremes. Recent studies reported a decrease in the intensity of extreme hourly precipitation with elevation. This “reverse orographic effect” could be related to processes which are sub-grid even for CPMs. It is thus crucial to understand to what extent CPMs can reproduce this effect. Due to the computational demands, however, CPM simulations are still too short for analysing extremes using conventional methods. We introduce the use of a non-asymptotic statistical approach (Simplified Metastatistical Extreme Value, SMEV) for the analysis of extremes from short time slices such as the ones of CPM simulations. We analyse an ERA-Interim-driven COSMO-crCLM simulation (2000–2009, 2.2 km resolution) and we use hourly precipitation from 174 rain gauges in an orographically-complex area in Northeastern Italy as a benchmark. We investigate the ability of the model to simulate the orographic effect on short-duration precipitation extremes as compared to observational data. We focus on extremes as high as the 20-year return levels. While an overall good agreement is reported at daily and hourly duration, the CPM tends to increasingly overestimate hourly extremes with increasing elevation implying that the reverse orographic effect is not fully captured. These findings suggest that CPM bias correction approaches should account for orography. SMEV capability of estimating reliable rare extremes from short periods promises further application on short time-slice CPM projections, and model ensembles.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Mar 2023
How well does a convection-permitting regional climate model represent the reverse orographic effect of extreme hourly precipitation?
Eleonora Dallan, Francesco Marra, Giorgia Fosser, Marco Marani, Giuseppe Formetta, Christoph Schär, and Marco Borga
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1133–1149, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1133-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1133-2023, 2023
Short summary

Eleonora Dallan et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1037', Anonymous Referee #1, 12 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Eleonora Dallan, 17 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1037', Anonymous Referee #2, 18 Nov 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Eleonora Dallan, 17 Dec 2022
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1037', Anonymous Referee #3, 10 Dec 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Eleonora Dallan, 17 Dec 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1037', Anonymous Referee #1, 12 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Eleonora Dallan, 17 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1037', Anonymous Referee #2, 18 Nov 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Eleonora Dallan, 17 Dec 2022
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1037', Anonymous Referee #3, 10 Dec 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Eleonora Dallan, 17 Dec 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (30 Dec 2022) by Nunzio Romano
AR by Eleonora Dallan on behalf of the Authors (04 Jan 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (15 Jan 2023) by Nunzio Romano
AR by Eleonora Dallan on behalf of the Authors (18 Jan 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (20 Jan 2023) by Nunzio Romano
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (21 Jan 2023)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (20 Feb 2023)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (23 Feb 2023)
ED: Publish as is (24 Feb 2023) by Nunzio Romano
AR by Eleonora Dallan on behalf of the Authors (27 Feb 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Mar 2023
How well does a convection-permitting regional climate model represent the reverse orographic effect of extreme hourly precipitation?
Eleonora Dallan, Francesco Marra, Giorgia Fosser, Marco Marani, Giuseppe Formetta, Christoph Schär, and Marco Borga
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1133–1149, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1133-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1133-2023, 2023
Short summary

Eleonora Dallan et al.

Eleonora Dallan et al.

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Short summary
Climate models at convection-permitting resolutions could represent future changes in extreme short-duration precipitation critical for risk management. We use a non-asymptotic statistical method to estimate extremes from 10 years of simulations in an orographically complex area. Despite a good agreement with rain gauges, the observed decrease of hourly extremes with elevation is not fully represented by the model. Climate model adjustment methods should consider orography.