Open AccessModernization of Atmospheric Physics Parameterization in Canadian NWP
Author(s) -
McTaggartCowan R.,
Vaillancourt P. A.,
Zadra A.,
Chamberland S.,
Charron M.,
Corvec S.,
Milbrandt J. A.,
PaquinRicard D.,
Patoine A.,
Roch M.,
Separovic L.,
Yang J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of advances in modeling earth systems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.03
H-Index - 58
ISSN - 1942-2466
DOI - 10.1029/2019ms001781
Subject(s) - numerical weather prediction , suite , meteorology , atmospheric physics , computer science , scale (ratio) , environmental science , physics , geography , atmosphere (unit) , archaeology , quantum mechanics
Atmospheric physics is represented in numerical models by parameterizations that use resolved‐scale information to estimate the effects of physical processes on the atmospheric state. Over time, our understanding of these processes improves, new techniques are introduced to represent physics in a numerical model, and increased resolution changes the relative importance of different parameterizations within the system. As a result, the physical parameterization packages of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models undergo regular updates as older schemes are replaced with newer ones that offer an improved, and often more complex, depiction of relevant physical processes. Such changes are typically combined with a rebalancing of the physics suite because of strong interactions between parameterization schemes and the presence of compensating errors in the system. In this study, a major update to the package of physical parameterizations used in Canadian operational NWP is introduced. The primary goals of this effort were to improve the global energy budget and to facilitate an increase in the vertical resolution of operational configurations. Both of these objectives were achieved, along with a significant improvement in guidance quality for global and regional prediction systems.