TY - JOUR
T1 - Extreme rainfall from Hurricane Harvey (2017)
T2 - Empirical intercomparisons of WRF simulations and polarimetric radar fields
AU - Yang, Long
AU - Smith, James A.
AU - Liu, Maofeng
AU - Baeck, Mary Lynn
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation grants (EAR-1632048, AGS-1522492 and CBET-1444758). The authors would like to acknowledge the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS), University of Oklahoma for development and maintenance of the polarimetric radar simulator CAPS-PRS as well as making it publicly accessible (http://arps.caps.ou.edu/downloadpyDualPol.html). Acknowledgements also extend to high-performance computing support from Yellowstone provided by NCAR Computational and Information Systems Laboratory, sponsored by the National Science Foundation through project UPRI0004.
Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation grants ( EAR-1632048 , AGS-1522492 and CBET-1444758 ). The authors would like to acknowledge the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS), University of Oklahoma for development and maintenance of the polarimetric radar simulator CAPS-PRS as well as making it publicly accessible ( http://arps.caps.ou.edu/downloadpyDualPol.html ). Acknowledgements also extend to high-performance computing support from Yellowstone provided by NCAR Computational and Information Systems Laboratory, sponsored by the National Science Foundation through project UPRI0004 .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2019/7/15
Y1 - 2019/7/15
N2 - We examine extreme rainfall from Hurricane Harvey (2017) based on empirical analyses from polarimetric radar observations as well as high-resolution model simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF). Spatial and temporal structures of extreme rainfall from Hurricane Harvey were characterized using a dense network of rain gauges and high-resolution radar rainfall fields. Numerical simulations using two different microphysical parameterizations, the WRF 6-class single-moment (WSM6) scheme and Morrison double-moment scheme, were employed, together with an additional simulation using the hail version of the Morrison microphysical scheme. Extreme rainfall from Hurricane Harvey is closely tied to the structure and evolution of outer rainbands. Intercomparisons of the simulated and observed polarimetric radar variables show contrasts and similarities of different microphysical schemes in representing critical microphysical processes for extreme rainfall. All three WRF simulations overestimate the frequency of larger rain drops, but exhibit comparable signatures of specific differential phase to observations. The WSM6 simulation shows strong convection that leads to the largest coverage of convective rainfall over outer rainbands of all three WRF simulations. We highlight the capabilities of atmospheric model simulations and improved quantitative rainfall estimates in characterizing key features of extreme rainfall from landfalling TCs as well as critical storm ingredients that produce them.
AB - We examine extreme rainfall from Hurricane Harvey (2017) based on empirical analyses from polarimetric radar observations as well as high-resolution model simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF). Spatial and temporal structures of extreme rainfall from Hurricane Harvey were characterized using a dense network of rain gauges and high-resolution radar rainfall fields. Numerical simulations using two different microphysical parameterizations, the WRF 6-class single-moment (WSM6) scheme and Morrison double-moment scheme, were employed, together with an additional simulation using the hail version of the Morrison microphysical scheme. Extreme rainfall from Hurricane Harvey is closely tied to the structure and evolution of outer rainbands. Intercomparisons of the simulated and observed polarimetric radar variables show contrasts and similarities of different microphysical schemes in representing critical microphysical processes for extreme rainfall. All three WRF simulations overestimate the frequency of larger rain drops, but exhibit comparable signatures of specific differential phase to observations. The WSM6 simulation shows strong convection that leads to the largest coverage of convective rainfall over outer rainbands of all three WRF simulations. We highlight the capabilities of atmospheric model simulations and improved quantitative rainfall estimates in characterizing key features of extreme rainfall from landfalling TCs as well as critical storm ingredients that produce them.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062874097&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062874097&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.03.004
DO - 10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.03.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85062874097
SN - 0169-8095
VL - 223
SP - 114
EP - 131
JO - Journal de Recherches Atmospheriques
JF - Journal de Recherches Atmospheriques
ER -