Large-eddy simulations of the Great Plains nocturnal low-level jet using the WRF model

The ability of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to accurately reproduce the Great Plains nocturnal low-level jet (NLLJ) was studied for several cases from the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field campaign. The WRF model was employed in a large-eddy simulation configuration (WRF-LES). The WRF-LES runs were initialized using realistic forcing data and results were compared with PECAN observational data collected during June 2015. Investigated features of the NLLJ include vertical structure, physical expanse, initiation time, general evolution, and peak intensity. The effects of model grid configuration, including size and resolution, were also investigated.