Evaluation of Multiple Planetary Boundary Layer Parameterizations and Urban Canopy Models for Simulation of Near-Surface Meteorological Conditions in Miami during the Landfall of Hurricane Irma (2017)

We evaluate 12 different combinations of planetary boundary layer (PBL) and urban canopy models (UCMs) in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for simulating the landfall of Hurricane Irma in Miami, FL, on Sept. 10, 2017. Although Miami avoided a direct hit by the eyewall of Irma, it experienced a long period of strong tropical-storm-force winds from the outer wind field. Therefore it is a suitable case for understanding how well different PBL schemes and UCMs predict near-surface conditions in a complex urban environment under tropical-storm-force conditions. The PBL schemes evaluated are the Mellor-Yamada-Jancic, Yonsei University, and the Bougeault-Lacarrare. The UCMs evaluated are a simple bulk scheme, slab UCM, a multi-layer building effects parameterization (BEP), and BEP combined with a building energy model (BEM). Each simulation is evaluated against observations near the ground and from towers in the vicinity of downtown Miami in a variety of different urban climate zones. The strengths and weaknesses of each PBL-scheme/UCM combination are assessed, leading to an improved understanding of these physical parameterizations for prediction of winds in the urban canopy beneath landfalling hurricanes.