Smoothing of the Andes Topography by the WRF Model and Its Effect When Evaluating PBL Schemes over Quito, Ecuador: GIS Visualization and Preliminary Analysis

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software was used as a tool for graphic visualization of modeled PBL over the equatorial Andes using the WRF model. To this end, preliminary results from a WRF v3.7 model run were evaluated by comparing against station observations at Universidad San Francisco de Quito's Atmospheric Measurement Station (EMA USFQ, Spanish acronym). EMA is located in the Ecuadorean Andes, east of Quito, at coordinates 0.19º S, 78.4º W, and 2391 masl (meters above sea level). The model’s performance when simulating PBL evolution over complex terrain was evaluated by superimposing the real topography over WRF's topographic grid (GIS visualization). Furthermore, a preliminary evaluation of WRF simulated surface variables (temperature and water vapor mixing ratio) was performed by comparing model output with EMA's observations. From this analysis, terrain distortion caused by WRF topographic smoothing has a direct influence on modeled PBL. A discussion based on comparisons with real topographic features as well as previous knowledge of measured PBL heights over the area will be presented.