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

Publication ,  Journal Article
Simon, JS; Bragg, AD; Chaney, NW
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
June 28, 2024

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.

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Published In

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

DOI

EISSN

2169-8996

ISSN

2169-897X

Publication Date

June 28, 2024

Volume

129

Issue

12

Related Subject Headings

  • 3702 Climate change science
  • 3701 Atmospheric sciences
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
  • 0401 Atmospheric Sciences
 

Citation

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Simon, J. S., Bragg, A. D., & Chaney, N. W. (2024). Heterogeneous Land-Surface Effects on TKE and Cloud Formation: Statistical Insights From LES Cases. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 129(12). https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039938
Simon, J. S., A. D. Bragg, and N. W. Chaney. “Heterogeneous Land-Surface Effects on TKE and Cloud Formation: Statistical Insights From LES Cases.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 129, no. 12 (June 28, 2024). https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039938.
Simon JS, Bragg AD, Chaney NW. Heterogeneous Land-Surface Effects on TKE and Cloud Formation: Statistical Insights From LES Cases. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 2024 Jun 28;129(12).
Simon, J. S., et al. “Heterogeneous Land-Surface Effects on TKE and Cloud Formation: Statistical Insights From LES Cases.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, vol. 129, no. 12, June 2024. Scopus, doi:10.1029/2023JD039938.
Simon JS, Bragg AD, Chaney NW. Heterogeneous Land-Surface Effects on TKE and Cloud Formation: Statistical Insights From LES Cases. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 2024 Jun 28;129(12).

Published In

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

DOI

EISSN

2169-8996

ISSN

2169-897X

Publication Date

June 28, 2024

Volume

129

Issue

12

Related Subject Headings

  • 3702 Climate change science
  • 3701 Atmospheric sciences
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
  • 0401 Atmospheric Sciences