Explicit model forecasts of supercooled water and application to icing case studies from research field campaigns

The bulk microphysical parameterization in MM5 has been extensively tested, updated, and improved. Upon testing the primary sensitivities of the microphysics using idealized flow conditions and comparing results to a bin microphysics scheme, the model was used in multiple case studies from various field projects. In this paper, the revised scheme is evaluated against data collected during the IMPROVE-2 project. Model-predicted hydrometeor species are compared to measurements by radars, radiometers, multiple research aircraft, and other sources. Particular emphasis is placed on prediction of a freezing drizzle event as well as a deep, precipitating snowstorm observed during IMPROVE-2.