High Resolution Modeling of Synoptic and Gravity Waves for SOLVE


 

Theory Investigation:High Resolution Modeling of Synoptic and Gravity Waves for SOLVE
Principal Investigator:Matthew H. Hitchman
Co-Investigators:Marcus L. Buker and Gregory J. Tripoli
Organization:Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
University of Wisconsin - Madison
1225 West Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53706

Investigation Description: The 3D University of Wisconsin Non-hydrostatic Modeling System (UW-NMS) will be used to investigate transport processes at the mesoscale to synoptic scale in the upper trosphere/lower stratosphere near Scandinavia during boreal winter. Aspects of the UW-NMS which are beneficial for this application include nested grids for small/large scale interaction, explicit calculation of vertical accelerations (non-hydrostatic), high resolution topography, passive tracer arrays, VIS-5D analysis, particle trajectories, and ozone initialization using the Langley trajectory mapping technique.

During the SOLVE campaigns we will be focussing on the role of topographic gravity waves in microphysical processes. Benchmark simulations show that daily runs at 10 x 10 km horizontal and 200-400 meter vertical resolution can be run in about 8 hours. We will make daily forecasts and analysis products available to the community, including:

  1. Archived model output will be made accessible in the field and displayed with VIS-5D on a laptop for forecasting synoptic and gravity wave structures to be encountered with aircraft and balloon flights.
  2. Mesoscale air parcel trajectory histories (temperature, pressure, and winds) from air volumes sampled by aircraft and balloon will be made available daily as input for use in detailed microphysical models in the community.
  3. Mesoscale simulations of ozone will be made available, initialized with large-scale ozone fields from the Langley HALOE mapping algorithm [Pierce et al., 1999].

Following the SOLVE missions we will study gravity wave morphology, comparing UW-NMS modelled characteristics with observations, and with gravity wave modelling techniques used by other SOLVE investigators. The ozone budget in the simulation volume will be studied in detail. We will also implement a highly simplified microphysical code in the UW-NMS to investigate the relative roles of sedimentation and bulk air motions in the nitrogen and hydrogen budgets of the boreal winter lower stratosphere.

This work will contribute toward understanding of the effects of gravity waves and mesoscale variability on heterogeneous chemistry. It will enhance understanding of the relationship between synoptic flows, topography, and lower stratospheric gravity waves.

For a description of the UW-NMS (and daily North American forecasts): http://mocha.meteor.wisc.edu

 

References:

Hitchman, M. H., M. L. Buker, and G. J. Tripoli, Influence of synoptic waves on column ozone during Arctic summer 1997, J. Geophys. Res., in press, 1999.
Pierce, R. B., J. A. Al-Saadi, T. D. Fairlie, J. R. Olson, R. S. Eckman, W. L. Grose, G. S. Lingenfelser, J. M. Russell III, Large-scale stratospheric ozone photochemistry and transport during the POLARIS campaign, J. Geophys. Res., in press, 1999.