Identification

Title

Simulations of severe convective systems using 1- versus 3-km grid spacing

Abstract

Herein, 14 severe quasi-linear convective systems (QLCS) covering a wide range of geographical loca-tions and environmental conditions are simulated for both 1-and 3-km horizontal grid resolutions, to further clarify their comparative capabilities in representing convective system features associated with severe weather production. Emphasis is placed on validating the simulated reflectivity structures, cold pool strength, mesoscale vortex characteris-tics, and surface wind strength. As to the overall reflectivity characteristics, the basic leading-line trailing stratiform structure was often better defined at 1 versus 3 km, but both resolutions were capable of producing bow echo and line echo wave pattern type features. Cold pool characteristics for both the 1-and 3-km simulations were also well repli-cated for the differing environments, with the 1-km cold pools slightly colder and often a bit larger. Both resolutions captured the larger mesoscale vortices, such as line-end or bookend vortices, but smaller, leading-line mesoscale up-draft vortices, that often promote QLCS tornadogenesis, were largely absent in the 3-km simulations. Finally, while maximum surface winds were only marginally well predicted for both resolutions, the simulations were able to reason-ably differentiate the relative contributions of the cold pool versus mesoscale vortices. The present results suggest that while many QLCS characteristics can be reasonably represented at a grid scale of 3 km, some of the more detailed structures, such as overall reflectivity characteristics and the smaller leading-line mesoscale vortices would likely bene-fit from the finer 1-km grid spacing. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: High-resolution model forecasts using 3-km grid spacing have proven to offer significant forecast guidance enhancements for severe convective weather. However, it is unclear whether addi-tional enhancements can be obtained by decreasing grid spacings further to 1 km. Herein, we compare forecasts of severe quasi-linear convective systems (QLCS) simulated using 1-versus 3-km grids to document the potential value added of such increases in grid resolutions. It is shown that some significant improvements can be obtained in the representation of many QLCS features, especially as regards reflectivity structure and in the development of small, leading-line mesoscale vortices that can contribute to both severe surface wind and tornado production.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d75h7m73

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2023-03-01T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact