Heterogeneous Land-Surface Effects on TKE and Cloud Formation: Statistical Insights From LES Cases

This manuscript investigates the impact of land-surface heterogeneity on atmospheric processes by comparing 92 large-eddy simulation cases over the Southern Great Plains, leveraging high-resolution spatially heterogeneous and homogeneous land-surface fields. Utilizing the HydroBlocks land-surface model for detailed surface data and the Weather Research and Forecasting model for atmospheric simulations, this study emphasizes the significant role land-surface details play in atmospheric dynamics, particularly in cloud formation and boundary-layer development. The analysis focuses on the comparison of turbulent kinetic energy and liquid water path between heterogeneous and homogeneous surface conditions, revealing a strong correlation between surface heterogeneity and enhanced atmospheric activity. Furthermore, the study underscores that the most influential land-surface characteristics on the atmosphere are encapsulated within the largest spatial scales, suggesting a potential simplification for incorporating sub-grid scale land-surface features into global models. The findings advocate for a more formal coupling between the sub-grid land and atmosphere in Earth system models to improve the accuracy of weather and climate predictions, particularly for processes such as cloud formation and boundary-layer dynamics that are sensitive to surface conditions. This work lays foundational insights for future parameterization schemes in global models, highlighting the importance of land-surface details on atmospheric modeling.

Duke Scholars

Author Andrew Bragg Civil and Environmental Engineering

Author Nathaniel Chaney Civil and Environmental Engineering