Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/fonts/TeX/fontdata.js
Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-348
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-348
01 Jul 2022
 | 01 Jul 2022

Lightning Assimilation in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model Version 4.1.1: Technique Updates and Assessment of the Applications from Regional to Hemispheric Scales

Daiwen Kang, Nicholas Heath, Robert Gilliam, Tanya Spero, and Jonathan Pleim

Abstract. The lightning assimilation (LTA) technique in the Kain-Fritsch convective parameterization in the WRF model has been updated and applied to continental and hemispheric simulations using lightning flash data obtained from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) and the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), respectively. The impact of different values for cumulus parameters associated with the Kain-Fritsch scheme on simulations with and without LTA were evaluated for both the continental and the hemispheric simulations. Comparisons to gauge-based rainfall products and near-surface meteorological observations indicated that the LTA improved the model’s performance for most variables. The simulated precipitation with LTA using WWLLN lightning flashes in the hemispheric applications was significantly improved over the simulations without LTA when compared to precipitation from satellite observations in the Equatorial regions. The simulations without LTA showed significant sensitivity to the cumulus parameters (i.e., user-toggled switches) for monthly precipitation that was as large as 40 % during convective seasons for month-mean daily precipitations. With LTA, the differences in simulated precipitation due to the different cumulus parameters were minimized. The horizontal grid spacing of the modeling domain strongly influenced the LTA technique and the predicted total precipitation, especially in the coarser scales used for the hemispheric simulation. The user-definable cumulus parameters and domain resolution manifested the complexity of convective process modeling both with and without LTA. These results revealed sensitivities to domain resolution, geographic heterogeneity, and the source and quality of the lightning dataset.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Share

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Nov 2022
Lightning assimilation in the WRF model (Version 4.1.1): technique updates and assessment of the applications from regional to hemispheric scales
Daiwen Kang, Nicholas K. Heath, Robert C. Gilliam, Tanya L. Spero, and Jonathan E. Pleim
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 8561–8579, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8561-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8561-2022, 2022
Short summary
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Lightning assimilation implemented in the WRF model's Kain-Fritsch convective scheme is updated...
Share