Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC Drift

Abstract This study utilizes the wealth of observational data collected during the recent Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) drift experiment to constrain and evaluate close to two‐hundred daily Large‐Eddy Simulations (LES) of Arctic boundary layers and c...

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Main Authors: N. Schnierstein, J. Chylik, M. D. Shupe, R. A. J. Neggers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004296
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author N. Schnierstein
J. Chylik
M. D. Shupe
R. A. J. Neggers
author_facet N. Schnierstein
J. Chylik
M. D. Shupe
R. A. J. Neggers
author_sort N. Schnierstein
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study utilizes the wealth of observational data collected during the recent Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) drift experiment to constrain and evaluate close to two‐hundred daily Large‐Eddy Simulations (LES) of Arctic boundary layers and clouds at high resolutions. A standardized approach is adopted to tightly integrate field measurements into the experimental configuration. Covering the full drift represents a step forward from single‐case LES studies, and allows for a robust assessment of model performance against independent data under a range of atmospheric conditions. A homogeneously forced domain is simulated in a Lagrangian frame of reference, initialized with radiosonde and value‐added cloud profiles. Prescribed boundary conditions include various measured surface characteristics. Time‐constant composite forcing is applied, primarily consisting of subsidence rates sampled from reanalysis data. The simulations run for 3 hours, allowing turbulence and clouds to spin up while still facilitating direct comparison to MOSAiC data. Key aspects such as the vertical thermodynamic structure, cloud properties, and surface energy fluxes are well reproduced and maintained. The model captures the bimodal distribution of atmospheric states that is typical of Arctic climate. Selected days are investigated more closely to assess the model's skill in maintaining the observed boundary layer structure. The sensitivity to various aspects of the experimental configuration and model physics is tested. The model input and output are available to the scientific community, supplementing the MOSAiC data archive. The close agreement with observed meteorology justifies the use of LES for gaining further insight into Arctic boundary layer processes and their role in Arctic climate change.
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spelling doaj-art-6c41e23ffe9e487f8c62e213ff5d9ef12024-11-26T15:08:34ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems1942-24662024-11-011611n/an/a10.1029/2024MS004296Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC DriftN. Schnierstein0J. Chylik1M. D. Shupe2R. A. J. Neggers3Institute for Geophysics and Meteorology University of Cologne Cologne GermanyInstitute for Geophysics and Meteorology University of Cologne Cologne GermanyPhysical Sciences Laboratory National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder CO USAInstitute for Geophysics and Meteorology University of Cologne Cologne GermanyAbstract This study utilizes the wealth of observational data collected during the recent Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) drift experiment to constrain and evaluate close to two‐hundred daily Large‐Eddy Simulations (LES) of Arctic boundary layers and clouds at high resolutions. A standardized approach is adopted to tightly integrate field measurements into the experimental configuration. Covering the full drift represents a step forward from single‐case LES studies, and allows for a robust assessment of model performance against independent data under a range of atmospheric conditions. A homogeneously forced domain is simulated in a Lagrangian frame of reference, initialized with radiosonde and value‐added cloud profiles. Prescribed boundary conditions include various measured surface characteristics. Time‐constant composite forcing is applied, primarily consisting of subsidence rates sampled from reanalysis data. The simulations run for 3 hours, allowing turbulence and clouds to spin up while still facilitating direct comparison to MOSAiC data. Key aspects such as the vertical thermodynamic structure, cloud properties, and surface energy fluxes are well reproduced and maintained. The model captures the bimodal distribution of atmospheric states that is typical of Arctic climate. Selected days are investigated more closely to assess the model's skill in maintaining the observed boundary layer structure. The sensitivity to various aspects of the experimental configuration and model physics is tested. The model input and output are available to the scientific community, supplementing the MOSAiC data archive. The close agreement with observed meteorology justifies the use of LES for gaining further insight into Arctic boundary layer processes and their role in Arctic climate change.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004296large‐eddy simulationsarcticmosaicboundary layermixed‐phase clouds
spellingShingle N. Schnierstein
J. Chylik
M. D. Shupe
R. A. J. Neggers
Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC Drift
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
large‐eddy simulations
arctic
mosaic
boundary layer
mixed‐phase clouds
title Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC Drift
title_full Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC Drift
title_fullStr Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC Drift
title_full_unstemmed Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC Drift
title_short Standardized Daily High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of the Arctic Boundary Layer and Clouds During the Complete MOSAiC Drift
title_sort standardized daily high resolution large eddy simulations of the arctic boundary layer and clouds during the complete mosaic drift
topic large‐eddy simulations
arctic
mosaic
boundary layer
mixed‐phase clouds
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004296
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AT mdshupe standardizeddailyhighresolutionlargeeddysimulationsofthearcticboundarylayerandcloudsduringthecompletemosaicdrift
AT rajneggers standardizeddailyhighresolutionlargeeddysimulationsofthearcticboundarylayerandcloudsduringthecompletemosaicdrift