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Surface wind accuracy for modeling mineral dust emissions: Comparing two regional models in a Bodélé case study
Author(s) -
Laurent B.,
Heinold B.,
Tegen I.,
Bouet C.,
Cautenet G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2008gl033654
Subject(s) - environmental science , mineral dust , mesoscale meteorology , wind speed , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , atmosphere (unit) , geology , aerosol , geography
After a decade of research on improving the description of surface and soil features in desert regions to accurately model mineral dust emissions, we now emphasize the need for deeper evaluating the accuracy of modeled 10‐m surface wind speeds U 10 . Two mesoscale models, the Lokal‐Modell (LM) and the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), coupled with an explicit dust emission model have previously been used to simulate mineral dust events in the Bodélé region. We compare LM and RAMS U 10 , together with measurements at the Chicha site (BoDEx campaign) and Faya‐Largeau meteorological station. Surface features and soil schemes are investigated to correctly simulate U 10 intensity and diurnal variability. The uncertainties in dust emissions computed with LM and RAMS U 10 and different soil databases are estimated. This sensitivity study shows the importance of accurate computation of surface winds to improve the quantification of regional dust emissions from the Bodélé