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A representation of the effects of topography on surface rainfall within moving baroclinic disturbances
Author(s) -
Collier C. G.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49710142902
Subject(s) - baroclinity , mesoscale meteorology , orographic lift , orography , meteorology , radiosonde , terrain , climatology , precipitation , geology , environmental science , scale (ratio) , atmospheric sciences , geography , cartography
A numerical ‘parameterization’ model has been developed in order to predict precipitation amount over hilly terrain in North Wales. The model enables calculations to be made of the vertical velocity profile resulting from orographic and large‐scale baroclinic effects at grid points one kilometre apart over an area of 2400km 2 . In the present study the precipitation falling on an area of 10 3 km2, and on areas of order 10 2 km 2 within the larger area has been predicted, using as the input to the model large‐scale wind and humidity values derived from radiosonde ascents. Seven case studies are presented. All are examples of fast moving baroclinic systems. This type of system was chosen to minimize the effects of non‐orographic mesoscale or convective mechanisms, which are not parameterized in the present model. The mean error in the predicted rainfall over 10 3 km 2 was ± 10% and over 10 2 km 2 about ± 20%.