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Characteristics and Numerical Simulations of Extremely Large Atmospheric Boundary-layer Heights over an Arid Region in North-west China

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Abstract

Over arid regions in north-west China, the atmospheric boundary layer can be extremely high during daytime in late spring and summer. For instance, the depth of the observed convective boundary layer can exceed 3,000 m or even be up to 4,000 m at some stations. In order to characterize the atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) conditions and to understand the mechanisms that produce such an extreme boundary-layer height, an advanced research version of the community weather research and forecasting numerical model (WRF) is employed to simulate observed extreme boundary-layer heights in May 2000. The ability of the WRF model in simulating the atmospheric boundary layer over arid areas is evaluated. Several key parameters that contribute to the extremely deep boundary layer are identified through sensitivity experiments, and it is found that the WRF model is able to capture characteristics of the observed deep atmospheric boundary layer. Results demonstrate the influence of soil moisture and surface albedo on the simulation of the extremely deep boundary layer. In addition, the choice of land-surface model and forecast lead times also plays a role in the accurate numerical simulation of the ABL height.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

    Minjin Ma & Shigong Wang

  2. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, 135 South 1460 East, Rm. 819, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Minjin Ma & Zhaoxia Pu

  3. Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Disaster Reduction, Institute of Arid Meteorology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

    Qiang Zhang

Authors
  1. Minjin Ma
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  2. Zhaoxia Pu
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  3. Shigong Wang
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  4. Qiang Zhang
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Correspondence to Zhaoxia Pu.

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Ma, M., Pu, Z., Wang, S. et al. Characteristics and Numerical Simulations of Extremely Large Atmospheric Boundary-layer Heights over an Arid Region in North-west China. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 140, 163–176 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-011-9608-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-011-9608-2

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