The impact of adjusting physics in the university of wisconsin nonhydrostatic modeling system (UW-NMS) on tropical cyclone evolution

The Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP) aims to protect life and property from tropical cyclones (TCs) by improving TC track and intensity forecasting. As part of the HFIP, the High-Resolution Hurricane Test (HRH) was conducted by the Developmental Testbed Center (DTC) from 2008-2009, in which the impact of adjusting horizontal resolution on TC model forecasts was studied. Six models were used in this test, including the University of Wisconsin Nonhydrostatic Modeling System (UW-NMS). The results from the UW-NMS did not support the hypothesis that increasing horizontal model resolution leads to significant improvement in tropical cyclone forecasting. This study will further quantify the effects of adjusting model physics on tropical cyclone evolution in the UW-NMS by investigating the consequences of modifying vertical resolution and surface flux schemes.