The surface energy budget plays a significant role in determining weather and climate. It is, therefore, important to ensure that models that are developed to forecast weather and climate realistically account for the transfer of energy between the atmosphere and surface.

In this study, we adopt NCAR's WRF-ARW model to simulate a 4-km grid spacing domain across the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. Surface energy budget observations have been conducted continuously over the past three years at Howard University Beltsville Research facility in Beltsville, MD. The program is modeled off of national and international programs such as the DOE Atmospheric Measurement Program and World Climate Research Program's Baseline Surface Radiation Network. Observations from the Howard Beltsville site are used to evaluate components of the surface energy budget calculated in the WRF-ARW simulations over the region. Specifically statistical analyses are conducted of comparisons of clear sky cases, and a range of cloud sky conditions. The impact of energy budget errors on forecast fields is also assessed.