WRF-LES Simulation of the Boundary Layer Turbulent Processes during the BLLAST Campaign

• Main Authors: Mireia Udina, Àlex Montornès, Pau Casso, Branko Kosović, Joan Bech
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
• Series: Atmosphere
• Subjects: large eddy simulation; verification; turbulence; WRF
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1149

A real case long-term nested large eddy simulation (LES) of 25-day duration is performed using the WRF-LES modelling system, with a maximum horizontal grid resolution of 111 m, in order to explore the ability of the model to reproduce the turbulence magnitudes within the first tens of metres of the boundary layer. Sonic anemometer measurements from a 60-m tower installed during the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST) field campaign are used for verification, which is focused on the turbulent magnitudes in order to assess the success and limitations in resolving turbulent flow characteristics. The mesoscale and LES simulations reproduce the wind speed and direction fairly well, but only LES is able to reproduce the energy of eddies with lifetimes shorter than a few hours. The turbulent kinetic energy in LES simulation is generally underestimated during the daytime, mainly due to a vertical velocity standard deviation that is too low. The turbulent heat flux is misrepresented in the model, probably due to the inaccuracy of the sub-grid scheme.