Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1961
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1961
20 Sep 2023
 | 20 Sep 2023

Comparison between ground-based remote sensing observations and NWP model profiles in complex topography: the Meiringen campaign

Alexandre Bugnard, Martine Collaud Coen, Maxime Hervo, Daniel Leuenberger, Marco Arpagaus, and Samuel Monhart

Abstract. Thermally driven valley winds and near-surface air temperature inversions are common over complex topography and have a significant impact on the mesoscale weather situation. They both affect the dynamics of air masses and pollutant concentration. Valley winds affect it by favoring exchange between the boundary layer and the free troposphere, and temperature inversion by concentrating pollutants in cold stable surface layers. The complex interactions that lead to the observed weather patterns are challenging for Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. To study the performance of the COSMO-1 model anaylsis (KENDA-1), a measurement campaign took place from October 2021 to August 2022 in the 1.5 km wide Swiss Alpine valley called Haslital. A Microwave Radiometer and a DopplerWind Lidar were installed at Meiringen, in addition to a multitude of automatic ground measurement stations observing meteorologic surface variables. Near the measurement’s sites, a low altitude pass, the Brünig Pass, influence the wind dynamic similarly to a tributary. The collected data shows frequent nighttime temperature inversions for all months under study, which persist during daytime in colder months. An extended thermal wind system was also observed during the campaign, except in December and January allowing an extented analysis of along and cross valley winds. The comparison between the observations and the KENDA-1 data provides good model performances for monthly temperature and wind climatologies but frequent and important differences for particular cases, especially in case of foehn events. Modeled nighttime ground temperature overestimations are common due to missed temperature inversions resulting in bias up to 9 °C. Concerning the valley wind system, modeled flows are similar to the observations in their extent and strength, but suffer from a to early morning transition time towards up valley winds. The findings of the present study allow to better understand the temperature distributions, the thermally driven wind system in a medium size valley, the interactions with tributary valley flows, as well as the performances and limitations of a model in such complex topography.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Feb 2025
Comparison of temperature and wind profiles between ground-based remote sensing observations and numerical weather prediction model in complex Alpine topography: the Meiringen campaign
Alexandre Bugnard, Martine Collaud Coen, Maxime Hervo, Daniel Leuenberger, Marco Arpagaus, and Samuel Monhart
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1039–1061, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1039-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1039-2025, 2025
Short summary
Alexandre Bugnard, Martine Collaud Coen, Maxime Hervo, Daniel Leuenberger, Marco Arpagaus, and Samuel Monhart

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1961', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Oct 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Martine Collaud Coen, 31 Jan 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1961', Anonymous Referee #2, 10 Nov 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Martine Collaud Coen, 31 Jan 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1961', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Oct 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Martine Collaud Coen, 31 Jan 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1961', Anonymous Referee #2, 10 Nov 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Martine Collaud Coen, 31 Jan 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Martine Collaud Coen on behalf of the Authors (22 Feb 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (23 Feb 2024) by Claudia Acquistapace
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (27 Mar 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (28 Mar 2024)
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (09 Apr 2024) by Claudia Acquistapace
AR by Martine Collaud Coen on behalf of the Authors (11 Jul 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (07 Aug 2024) by Claudia Acquistapace
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (23 Aug 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (30 Sep 2024)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (07 Oct 2024) by Claudia Acquistapace
AR by Martine Collaud Coen on behalf of the Authors (11 Nov 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (12 Dec 2024) by Claudia Acquistapace
AR by Martine Collaud Coen on behalf of the Authors (08 Jan 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Feb 2025
Comparison of temperature and wind profiles between ground-based remote sensing observations and numerical weather prediction model in complex Alpine topography: the Meiringen campaign
Alexandre Bugnard, Martine Collaud Coen, Maxime Hervo, Daniel Leuenberger, Marco Arpagaus, and Samuel Monhart
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1039–1061, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1039-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1039-2025, 2025
Short summary
Alexandre Bugnard, Martine Collaud Coen, Maxime Hervo, Daniel Leuenberger, Marco Arpagaus, and Samuel Monhart
Alexandre Bugnard, Martine Collaud Coen, Maxime Hervo, Daniel Leuenberger, Marco Arpagaus, and Samuel Monhart

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Short summary
Temperature (T) and wind profiles were measured by a Doppler Wind Lidar and a Microwave Radiometer at Meiringen, a medium size Alpine valley. Ground-based T inversions and thermal winds were studied during the ten months of the campaign. The comparison between the observations and the COSMO-1 model provides good model performances for monthly climatologies. T inversion are however frequently missed and important differences for particular cases are found, especially in case of foehn events.
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