The optimization of southeast Texas extreme rainfall prediction utilizing the Weather Research and Forecast - Environmental Modeling System

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorRappenglueck, Bernhard
dc.contributor.committeeMemberJiang, Xun
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWood, Lance
dc.creatorBlood, Patrick G. 1970-
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-11T18:36:37Z
dc.date.available2015-02-11T18:36:37Z
dc.date.createdMay 2014
dc.date.issued2014-05
dc.date.updated2015-02-11T18:36:37Z
dc.description.abstractThe research focuses on varying multiple initialization datasets, along with planetary boundary layer and microphysical schemes, for a Houston, Texas-centered, local high - resolution Weather Research and Forecast - Environmental Modeling System (WRF - EMS) numerical weather prediction model. Statistical and graphical analyses of WRF - EMS model output and verification will be explored in an attempt to accurately simulate the April 18th, 2009 high rainfall event that adversely-affected the greater Houston metro area. Previous work has shown that high-resolution modeling has historically performed poorly on weakly-forced events (e.g., sea breeze boundary, summer convection) while performing more favorably with stronger-forced convective events (e.g., cold frontal passages, shortwave disturbances). Thus, numerous WRF - EMS model runs have been performed upon this cool season (i.e., stronger synoptically-forced) episode. Numerous WRF - EMS model simulations were run employing differing initial conditions while varying planetary boundary layer and microphysical scheme combinations. The validation of the numerical weather prediction model output will be against quality-controlled Weather Service Doppler radar (WSR-88D) data (i.e., Stage IV radar data). The inclusion of high-resolution land-surface modeling data into the WRF - EMS system will be analyzed to discern this data’s overall significance, or consequence, to final WRF - EMS model output. The research goal is to determine if, through iterative computer model simulation, a specific initialization-planetary boundary layer-microphysical scheme combination could more accurately re-create the convective characteristics of a southeastern Texas heavy, or extreme, rainfall event.
dc.description.departmentEarth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10657/902
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectEnvironmental modeling system
dc.subjectWeather Research and Forecasting (WRF)
dc.subjectWRF – EMS
dc.subject.lcshAtmospheric physics
dc.titleThe optimization of southeast Texas extreme rainfall prediction utilizing the Weather Research and Forecast - Environmental Modeling System
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
thesis.degree.departmentEarth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineAtmospheric Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
BLOOD-THESIS-2014.pdf
Size:
3.24 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
LICENSE.txt
Size:
1.84 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Published ETD Collection