Simulations of meso-gamma-scale circulations near Granite Peak, Utah with NCAR's WRF-based 4DWX system and assimilated airborne lidar data from the MATERHORN 2012 field campaign

The goals of this study are 1) to explore and overcome some of the challenges of assimilating lidar observations into mesoscale NWP systems, and 2) to evaluate and improve simulations of meso-gamma-scale circulations in the complex terrain of a semi-arid environment.

The study employs the WRF model in the framework of the Four-Dimensional Weather System (4DWX), developed by NCAR's Research Applications Laboratory and used by the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. 4DWX uses nudging to assimilate diverse observations and to generate continuous, four-dimensional, dynamically spun-up and physically consistent analyses and forecasts. Observations for the study are from the MATERHORN 2012 field campaign, which employed three ground-based Doppler lidars, the airborne TODWL (Twin Otter Doppler Wind Lidar), an unmanned aerial vehicle, towers, and a dense array of high-frequency weather stations.

This presentation will focus on observations and simulations from several IOPs in October 2012 near Granite Peak at Dugway Proving Ground, UT. Experiments will explore the effectiveness of assimilating lidar data in order to improve weather analysis and short-term prediction of meso-gamma-scale circulations in the lower troposphere.