Doppler wind lidar measured PBL wind profiles and their impact on numerical simulations of mesoscale convective systems

Wind profiles can represent atmospheric boundary layer structure in various conditions. Winds are also a significant factor that influences the formation and evolution of atmospheric boundary layer processes. Accurate representation of wind plays a crucial role in improving the numerical simulations of mesoscale convective system in boundary layer and beyond. However, measurements of high-resolution wind profiles are difficult to obtain. Despite several advanced ways such as satellite, radar and radiosonde, the Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) instruments offer a better choice to measure the atmospheric wind profiles with higher temporal and spatial resolution. In this study, the quality of wind profiles collected by the Goddard Lidar Observatory for Wind (GLOW), a ground based mobile facility of DWL during the International H2O Project (IHOP) is evaluated. Characteristics of atmospheric boundary layer wind profiles during mesoscale convective cases are analyzed. The multi-time GLOW wind profiles are also assimilated into the mesoscale weather research and forecasting (WRF) model for improving numerical simulations of mesocale convective systems. Results indicate that the DWL measured profiles can depict detailed atmospheric boundary layer wind structure. Assimilation of these wind profiles also results in improved numerical simulation of mesoscale convection systems.