Atmospheric Science Seminar
| Date/Time: | Thursday, 17 Feb 2011 from 4:10 pm to 5:10 pm |
|---|---|
| Location: | 2020 Agronomy Hall |
| Cost: | Free |
| URL: | http://www.agron.iastate.edu |
| Contact: | |
| Phone: | 515-294-1360 |
| Channel: | Agronomy Department |
| Categories: | Lectures |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
As global climate models (GCMs) have been found lacking in performance quality in regions where sub-grid scale
processes and features are particularly important, downscaling has increased in popularity as a way to improve regional-scale simulations for climate change projection purposes. In the central U.S., global model performance is hampered by the use of convective parameterization and by resolution. While it remains computationally difficult to run convective-resolving simulations over large-regions for long periods of time, improvement has been shown at resolutions where convection must still be parameterized, but with resolutions finer than those used in most GCMs. In this talk, we will explore the use of the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) as a nested regional climate model (RCM) over the central U.S. during the warm-season. Results from 30-km resolution simulations driven by both the NCEP-NCAR Reanalysis I and the NCAR Community Climate Model version 3.0 (CCSM), as run in support of AR4 will be shown. Improvements will be highlighted, particularly in the simulation of extreme precipitation, and a diagnosis of problems that may exist when using the WRF for this purpose will be discussed. Simulations from the six RCMs run for the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) will also be discussed in context. Projections of future precipitation and temperature for the central U.S. warm season from these models will also be presented.