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Evaluate operational forecast models' drizzle simulation accuracy through observed liquid water content, flux, and drop size comparisons. Explore radar/lidar data retrieval and effects on model performance.
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Drizzle comparisons Ewan O’Connor, Robin Hogan, Anthony Illingworth
Overview • Do operational forecast models simulate drizzle correctly? • Models simulate drizzle through precipitation scheme • Treat coalescence drizzle as light rain • Observed liquid water content/flux • Cloud LWC retrieval • Drizzle liquid water flux retrieval • Compare observations and models • Daily basis • Monthly means • Drizzle drop size • Explicit in Met Office model • Effect of changing drizzle number concentration
Liquid water content Model levels Method of Albrecht et al. (1990), Boers et al.(2000) • Use lidar/radar to determine cloud boundaries • Assume linear increase of LWC with height • Scale LWC profile to match LWP from radiometers Cloud top (radar) Height Cloud base (lidar) LWC
Liquid water content • LWC not retrieved in rain
Drizzle below cloud Doppler radar and lidar - 4 observables(O’Connor et al. 2005) • Radar/lidar ratio provides information on particle size
Drizzle below cloud Doppler radar and lidar - 4 observables(O’Connor et al. 2005) • Radar/lidar ratio provides information on particle size Retrieve three components of drizzle DSD (N, D, μ). • Can then calculate LWC, LWF and vertical air velocity, w.
Liquid water flux • LWF retrieved below cloud base and in the absence of rain
ECMWF model • Cloud similar to observations
Met Office mesoscale model • Cloud similar to observations
Met Office global model • Has rain at correct time!
Meteo France ARPEGE model • Thin layers - can be one grid box thick
Compare obs/models • Models have similar LWC / LWP • Models overestimate precipitation
Compare daily means • Models have similar LWC / LWP • Models overestimate precipitation
Monthly comparisons • ECMWF model • Observations
Monthly comparisons • Met Office mesoscale model • Observations
Monthly comparisons • Met Office global model • Observations
Monthly comparisons • Meteo France ARPEGE model • Observations
Drizzle drop size • Met Office model uses explicit size distributions • Treats all precipitation as rain • Overestimates drop sizes • Underestimates evaporation Disdrometer Radar/lidar Model
Met Office diagnostic precipitation • Met Office model uses explicit size • Treats all precipitation as rain
Met Office diagnostic precipitation • Met Office model uses explicit size • Treats all precipitation as rain
Met Office diagnostic precipitation • Met Office model uses explicit size • Treats all precipitation as rain
Met Office diagnostic precipitation • Met Office model uses explicit size • Treats all precipitation as rain
Met Office diagnostic precipitation • Met Office model uses explicit size • Treats all precipitation as rain
Conclusion • Models have reasonable LWC • Produce far too much drizzle • Precipitation reaches surface • Underestimate evaporation • Met Office model • Overestimate of drizzle drop size