Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model simulations over North America: control run from 1995 to 2015

The Weather Research Forecasting model can simulate weather systems with spatial scales ranging from a few metres to thousands of kilo-metres and is suitable for both operational forecasting and atmospheric research. To assess the hydroclimatic risks posed by climate change in North America, a retrospective simulation (CTL) using the WRF model with convection-permitting 4-km grid spacing. The convection-permitting resolution of the model avoids the error-prone convection parameterization by explicitly resolving cumulus plumes. The WRF-CONUS-II dataset contains the historical/retrospective simulation of the period 1995-2015 forced by CCSM bias corrected by the monthly mean ERA-Interim reanalysis climatology. In order to evaluate the added-values by using 4-km resolution, a companion simulation with 12-km grid spacing has been conducted with identical configuration except using coarse resolution and convection parameterization.

The Weather Research Forecasting model can simulate weather systems with spatial scales ranging from a few metres to thousands of kilo-metres and is suitable for both operational forecasting and atmospheric research. To assess the hydroclimatic risks posed by climate change in North America, a retrospective simulation (CTL) using the WRF model with convection-permitting 4-km grid spacing. The convection-permitting resolution of the model avoids the error-prone convection parameterization by explicitly resolving cumulus plumes. The WRF-CONUS-II dataset contains the historical/retrospective simulation of the period 1995-2015 forced by CCSM bias corrected by the monthly mean ERA-Interim reanalysis climatology. This data set was produced by NCAR with the participation of GWF researchers. It will be used to support atmospheric research objectives within the Global Water Futures Program funded by Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

North America

Model name: WRF
Model version number: 3.9.1.1
Model source/webpage: https://www.mmm.ucar.edu/weather-research-and-forecasting-model
Model output pre-processing script: WPS
Model output post-processing script:
Model setup: 4km grid spacing, 51 vertical levels, 12 km grid spacing
Time step: 15 seconds
Initial condition: CCSM bias-corrected to ERA-Interim
Boundary condition: CCSM bias-corrected to ERA-Interim