Evaluation of the performance of WRF model in extreme precipitation estimation concerning the changing model configuration and the spatial and temporal variations

2020-05-08
Duzenli, Eren
Pilatin, Heves
Yücel, İsmail
Kılıçarslan, Berina
Yılmaz, Mustafa Tuğrul
Global numerical weather prediction models (NWP) such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and Global Forecast System (GFS) generate atmospheric data for the entire world. However, these models provide the data at large spatiotemporal resolutions because of computational limitations. Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is one of the models, which is capable of dynamically downscaling the NWP models’ output. In this study, all combinations of 4 microphysics and 3 cumulus parametrization schemes, 2 planetary boundary layers (PBL), 2 initial and lateral boundary conditions and 2 horizontal grid spacing (i.e., an ensemble consisting of 96 different scenarios) are simulated to measure the sensitivity of WRF-derived precipitation against different model configurations. The sensitivity analyses are performed for 4 separate events. These events are selected among the extreme precipitation events in the Mediterranean (MED) and eastern Black Sea (EBLS) regions. For each region, a summer and an autumn event are chosen. Here, the fundamental aim is to determine the spatiotemporal differences in WRF input parameters that yield better outcomes. A total of 72 hours simulations are started 24 hours before the event day to avoid spin-up time error. The model is adjusted to produce hourly precipitation outputs. The relative performance of scenarios is measured using Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method considering 5 categorical validation indices and 4 pairwise statistics calculated between the model estimations and the ground-based precipitation observations. According to the TOPSIS results, microphysics scheme, initial and lateral boundary condition, and horizontal grid spacing are substantially influential on WRF precipitation estimates, while cumulus parameterization has a comparatively low effect. The choice of PBL scheme is essential for the summer events, but the results of the autumn events are independent of PBL selection. WRF products are better for the events of the EBLS basin when ERA5 is used as the initial and lateral boundary condition. On the contrary, GFS is superior in the MED region. In terms of spatial resolution, 9 km horizontal grid spacing is commonly preferable for all the events rather than 3 km. Besides, the model underestimates the area-averaged precipitation amounts except for the MED-autumn incident. Still, the model is successful at catching the peak hours of all events. Moreover, the precipitation detection ability of WRF is better for the autumn months. The probability of detection index is higher than 0.5 at 35% of MED stations and 68% of EBLS stations for the autumn events. The local and convective summer events are investigated considering the event centers. Albeit relatively low relationships are defined for the MED-summer event, a statistically significant correlation is obtained between the central station of the EBLS-summer event and the closest grid for the predictions of 52 scenarios (i.e., 54% of the ensemble).
EGU General Assembly 2020, (04 - 08 Mayıs 2020)

Suggestions

Evaluating the use of different precipitation datsets in flood modelling
Akyürek, Sevda Zuhal (2016-04-17)
Satellite based precipitation products, numerical weather prediction model precipitation forecasts and weather radar precipitation estimates can be a remedy for gauge sparse regions especially in flood forecasting studies. However, there is a strong need for evaluation of the performance and limitations of these estimates in hydrology. This study compares the Hydro-Estimator precipitation product, Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model precipitation and weather radar values with gauge data in Samsun-T...
Assessment of flash flood events using remote sensing and atmospheric model-derived precipitation in a hydrological model
Yücel, İsmail (2011-07-07)
Remotely-sensed precipitation estimates and regional atmospheric model precipitation forecasts provide rainfall data at high spatial and temporal resolutions with a large-scale coverage, and can therefore be potentially used for hydrological applications for making flash flood forecasts and warnings. This study investigates the performance of the rainfall products obtained from the Hydro Estimator (HE) algorithm of NOAA/NESDIS and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and their use in a hydrolog...
Assessment of a flash flood event using different precipitation datasets
Yücel, İsmail (2015-12-01)
Remotely sensed precipitation estimates and regional atmospheric model precipitation forecasts provide rainfall data at high spatial and temporal resolutions and can therefore be potentially used for hydrological applications for flash flood forecasting and warning. This study investigates the performance of the rainfall products obtained from weather radar, the Hydro-Estimator (HE) algorithm of NOAA/NESDIS and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and their use in the Hydrologic Engineering Cen...
Evaluating a mesoscale atmosphere model and a satellite-based algorithm in estimating extreme rainfall events in northwestern Turkey
Yücel, İsmail (Copernicus GmbH, 2014-01-01)
Quantitative precipitation estimates are obtained with more uncertainty under the influence of changing climate variability and complex topography from numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. On the other hand, hydrologic model simulations depend heavily on the availability of reliable precipitation estimates. Difficulties in estimating precipitation impose an important limitation on the possibility and reliability of hydrologic forecasting and early warning systems. This study examines the performance o...
Evaluating the performance of a WRF initial and physics ensemble over Eastern Black Sea and Mediterranean regions in Turkey
Düzenli, Eren; Yücel, İsmail; Yılmaz, Mustafa Tuğrul (Elsevier BV, 2021-01-15)
The physics- and initial-based ensemble approach for Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is applied for predicting four different extreme precipitation events that occurred in summer and autumn over the two most flood-prone regions of Turkey, namely; the Eastern Black Sea (EBS) and Mediterranean (MED). A total of 48 runs, each of which includes two nested domains, is designed considering four microphysics (MP), three cumulus (CU), two planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes, and two initial forcing ...
Citation Formats
E. Duzenli, H. Pilatin, İ. Yücel, B. Kılıçarslan, and M. T. Yılmaz, “Evaluation of the performance of WRF model in extreme precipitation estimation concerning the changing model configuration and the spatial and temporal variations,” presented at the EGU General Assembly 2020, (04 - 08 Mayıs 2020), Vienna, Austria, 2020, Accessed: 00, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-1026.