Wednesday, 25 June 2003: 10:30 AM
High Resolution Modelling of Orographic Rainfall
The Met Office is currently developing high resolution
(order 1km gridlength) versions of its Unified Model for
future operational NWP use. One of the potential advantages
of high resolution models is improved handling of orographic
rainfall. The focus of this work is on the seeder-feeder effect
which is thought to be responsible for much of the orographic
rainfall in the UK. Results are presented from an idealised
seeder-feeder model and scale analysis. This analysis indicates
how the behaviour of orographic enhancement depends on the
relationship between the length scale of the orography
and a characteristic length scale of the enhancement process.
Data will also be shown from running case studies with the
Unified Model at various resolutions. Results from a
non-hydrostatic version of the model are compared with
those from a hydrostatic version. In addition, results
highlight the complications introduced by ice processes
when the melting level is within the feeder cloud.
Supplementary URL: