Modeling of Mesoscale Modeling of Mesoscale Phenomena at the Mesoscale Phenomena at the Mesoscale

Modeling LaboratoryModeling Laboratory

Dr. Yuh-Lang Lin

Dr. Michael L. Kaplan

Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences

North Carolina State University

Mesoscale Modeling Mesoscale Modeling LaboratoryLaboratory

Tropical Cyclone Research Projects

Mesoscale Alpine Program Research

http://mesolab.meas.ncsu.edu

Current Projects:

Forest Fire Research

RTTM Research Wake Vortex Project

MEAS

Contact: yl_lin@ncsu.edu

Leading ScientistsLeading ScientistsDr. Yuh-Lang Lin, Professor, MEAS, NCSUDr. Yuh-Lang Lin, Professor, MEAS, NCSUDr. Michael L. Kaplan, Research Asso. Prof., MEAS, NCSUDr. Michael L. Kaplan, Research Asso. Prof., MEAS, NCSU

Current StudentsCurrent StudentsPh.D.: C. M. Hill, C. Huang, H. D. Reeves, J. A. ThurmanPh.D.: C. M. Hill, C. Huang, H. D. Reeves, J. A. ThurmanM.S.: Z. G. Brown, A. M. Hoggarth, M. K. Kiefer, M.S.: Z. G. Brown, A. M. Hoggarth, M. K. Kiefer,

K. E. Robertson, N. C. Witcraft K. E. Robertson, N. C. Witcraft

B.S.: B.S.: R. R. Clark, C. K. Lauer R. R. Clark, C. K. Lauer

Computing FacilitiesComputing FacilitiesMesoLab linux cluster; access to PAMS linux cluster, and MesoLab linux cluster; access to PAMS linux cluster, and NCSU HPC and NCAR supercomputers. NCSU HPC and NCAR supercomputers.

Postdoctoral scholars and graduate students sponsored in the past:

Postdoc: D. Schowalter, R. P. Weglarz, S. Shen, C.-T. Kao, J. Han, J. J. Charney, B.-W. Shen

Ph.D.: N.-H. Lin, H.-Y. Chun, R. P. Weglarz, T.-A. Wang, J. Wang, R.A. Rozumalski, J. Egentowich, J. Han, C. M. Chu, F. Ding, B.-W. Shen, D. A. DeCroix,

K. D. Pfeiffer, S. Chiao, J. D. Cetola M.S.: I.-C. Jao, B. D. Felton, R. L. Deal, M. S. Kulie,

D. W. Hamilton*, J. D. Shaltanis, L. E. Joyce, K. M. Lux, C. M. Hill, S.-Y. Chen, S. D. Slussers (*employeed at NASA/LaRC)

Funding HistoryFunding History:: We have been funded by Air Force, IBM, We have been funded by Air Force, IBM, NASA/LaRC, NASA/GSFC, NOAA, NSF, ONR, RTI, NASA/LaRC, NASA/GSFC, NOAA, NSF, ONR, RTI, UCAR, USFS, etc. UCAR, USFS, etc.

Aviation Turbulence and Forest Fire Projects– Real-Time Turbulence Model (RTTM) project

(Funded by NASA/LaRC)– Wake Vortex Avoidance System (Wake VAS)

(Funded by NASA/LaRC)– Forest Fire Project (Supported by US Forest Service)

Current students involved: C. Huang (Ph.D.)

Z. G. Brown (MS) A. M. Hoggarth (MS)M. K. Kiefer (MS)C. K. Lauer (BS)

Presented earlier by Dr. Mike Kaplan. (see our home page for details)

Mesoscale Alpine Program (MAP) Mesoscale Alpine Program (MAP) ResearchResearch

Objective: Using mesoscale models and obs. data to study heavy orographic rainfall events observed during MAP IOPs.

Collaborators and students involved:

– Dr. S.-H. Chen (Assis. Prof., UC-Davis)– H. D. Reeves (Ph.D.) – J. A. Thurman (Ph.D.)– S. Chiao (finished Ph.D. in Dec. 2002)– S.-Y. Chen (finished M.S. in Aug. 2003)

Funded by NSF

MAP Field Experiment (15 August to 15 November 1999)

A Schematics of Environment Conducive to Heavy Orographic Rainfall for IOP-2B (Lin et al. 2003)

Synoptic and Mesoscale Environments for

MAP IOP-8

10/20/12 to

10/21/12UTC

1999

Domains and Geography

MM5MM5

MP: LFOMP: LFO

dx=45 kmdx=45 km

CP: Betts-CP: Betts-MillerMiller

dx=15 kmdx=15 km Grell+LFOGrell+LFOdx =5 kmdx =5 km Grell+LFOGrell+LFO

IOP-8 34h Accumulated Rainfall(10/20/12-10/21/22UTC)

Simulated Observed

Geopotential Temperature and Wind Fields (850 mb)

Numerically Simulated

10/20/18Z10/21/00Z10/21/06Z10/21/12Z

Tropical Cyclogenesis ResearchTropical Cyclogenesis Research Objective: Using satellite imagery, mesoscale

models and reanalysis data to study the generation and propagation of tropical cyclone precursors.

Students involved: – C. M. Hill (Ph.D.)– K. E. Robertson (M.S.)– C. Huang (Ph.D.)

Funded by Office of Naval Research

Hurricane Alberto (2000)Hurricane Alberto (2000) A mesoscale vortex and convective system was

originated from Ethiopian Highlands triggered the hurricane. (Hill and Lin, GRL 2003)

The Alberto vortex went through a series of genesis and lysis life cycle over the African continent before triggering tropical depression.

Easterly waves may also be generated at the Ethiopian Highlands and trigger tropical cyclones in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Alberto Precursor: MesovortexAlberto Precursor: MesovortexIR Satellite ImageryIR Satellite Imagery

Alberto Mesovortex: Alberto Mesovortex: Analyzed from theAnalyzed from the

ECMWF 0.5ECMWF 0.5oo Re-analysis data Re-analysis data

Vorticity at 700mb

Orographic Effects on Tropical Orographic Effects on Tropical Cyclones (TC)Cyclones (TC)

Objective: To investigate orographic effects on TC tracks and rainfall

Collaborators and Students Involved: – Dr. Y.-H. (Bill) Kuo (Senior Scientist, NCAR)– Dr. C.-Y. Huang (National Central U., Taiwan)– Dr. C.-C. Wu (National Taiwan U., Taiwan)– C. M. Hill (Ph.D.)– N. C. Witcraft (M.S.)– K. E. Robertson (M.S.)– R. R. Clark (BS)– S.-Y. Chen (M.S., Aug. 2003)

Supported by UCAR/AWARE Program

Tracks around HispaTracks around Hispannolaola

Tracks around Taiwan Tracks around Taiwan (Wang 1980)(Wang 1980)

Continuous Track•Faster, stronger

Discontinuous track•Slower, weaker

Bilis IR Imagery LoopBilis IR Imagery Loop

Model DomainsModel Domains

45 km domain (91 X 91) 15 km domain (130 X 130)5 km domain (115 X 91)

Reformation of the surface lowReformation of the surface low850 mb height & temperature

7/29/09Z 7/29/15Z 7/29/21Z

Model Simulated Rainfall vs Observation Model Simulated Rainfall vs Observation for Typhoon Bilis (2000)for Typhoon Bilis (2000)

Comparison of modeled and observed rainfall for 8/22/12Z to 8/23/00Z