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Numerical simulations of three different MAP IOPs and the associated microphysical processes
Author(s) -
Lascaux Franck,
Richard Evelyne,
Pinty JeanPierre
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1256/qj.05.197
Subject(s) - graupel , mesoscale meteorology , orography , environmental science , orographic lift , snow , precipitation , meteorology , radar , atmospheric sciences , climatology , geology , geography , computer science , telecommunications
The data collected during three contrasting Intensive Observing Periods (IOPs) of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) were used to assess the performance of the Meso‐NH model with particular emphasis on precipitation and microphysical processes. The model was able to reproduce the intense and moderate convective rain of IOPs 2A and 3, respectively, and also the stratiform precipitation associated with IOP 8. Microphysical budget computations were used to derive the mean vertical distribution of the hydrometeors and to quantify the relationships among the different water species. The results of IOP 8 exhibit a shallow stratiform system in which the dominant ice hydrometeor is snow, growing efficiently by vapour deposition. In contrast, the results of IOP 2A show a much deeper system in which graupel and its associated growth modes play an important role. These results are consistent with the two conceptual models of orographic rain that were derived from the MAP radar observations. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society