An investigation of the impact of including CAMEX-3 data on high resolution Hurricane Bonnie simulations

Simulations of 1998 Atlantic Hurricane Bonnie are carried out with a two-way interactive nested grid model which explicitly resolves convective clouds in the finest grid. The model incorporates detailed water- and ice-phase microphysics, a radiation scheme and surface fluxes of heat, moisture, and momentum. The control simulation is initialized using National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) data and a prescribed vortex in gradient wind balance. This control simulation produces a realistic hurricane structure, but the intensity is significantly weaker than observed during the first twenty four hours of the simulation. Sensitivity experiments are carried out to investigate the impact of high-resolution measurements obtained during the 1998 CAMEX-3 field campaign. In particular, sensitivity tests are run to gauge the impact of winds and moisture from dropsondes and LASE water vapor profiles on storm track and intensity prediction.