Assimilation of MATERHORN field program data for better understanding and prediction of mountainous atmospheric flows over complex terrain

Data assimilation experiments are performed to assimilate the observations obtained during the Mountain Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations (MATERHORN) field program using an advanced research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and its data assimilation systems. The goal is to 1) evaluate the impact of data assimilation on predictability of mountainous atmospheric flows; 2) understand the evolution of mountainous atmospheric flows through more accurate numerical simulations; 3) examine the influence of observations from new instruments/platforms on numerical simulations of atmospheric conditions over complex terrain.

Results from several cases during MATERHORN Fall 2012, Spring 2013 and Fog-X during December 2014 to January 2015 will be summarized in the presentation. The benefits of high-resolution data assimilation with field observations (e.g., soundings and surface measurements) will be demonstrated. The influence of the ground-based and airborne Doppler wind lidar observations on the simulation of mountainous flow will also be discussed.