A simulation of an extreme katabatic wind event

The Modèle Atmosphérique Régional (MAR) is forced through its lateral boundaries in order to simulate an extreme katabatic wind event that occurred in Adélie Land on 22-24 february 2000.

In contrast with ECMWF analyses MAR is able to simulate that event but underestimates by 20% the maximum observed wind speed (50m/s at Cape Denison).

Sensitivity tests to the horizontal resolution are performed by taking horizontal grid sizes of 10, 20 and 55km, but such a sensitivity is not significant.

This suggests that adequate model physics are an important point when forecasting this event.