The IOP6 (24 September 2012) heavy precipitation event over Southern France:

observational and model analysis

Lagouvardos, K. (1), Kotroni, V. (1), Bousquet O. (2), Defer E. (3), Lampiris A. (1), Molinie, G. (4), Ribaud, J-F (2)

(1) National Observatory of Athens, Greece, (2) CNRM-GAME, CNRS and Météo-France, France, (3) LERMA - CNRS/Observatoire de Paris, France, (4) UJF-Grenoble 1, LTHE UMR

5564, Grenoble, France

The IOP6 (24 September 2012) heavy precipitation event over Southern France:

observational and model analysis

Lagouvardos, K. (1), Kotroni, V. (1), Bousquet O. (2), Defer E. (3), Lampiris A. (1), Molinie, G. (4), Ribaud, J-F (2)

(1) National Observatory of Athens, Greece, (2) CNRM-GAME, CNRS and Météo-France, France, (3) LERMA - CNRS/Observatoire de Paris, France, (4) UJF-Grenoble 1, LTHE UMR

5564, Grenoble, France

 

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Study of a SOP1 case characterized by organized convection and increased lightning activity

• Initial analysis of observational data:raingauges, satellite imagery, radar,lightning (ZEUS and Lightning Map Array).

• Analysis of cloud-resolving simulations using WRF model with focus on the microphysical structure of the event.

SYNOPTIC CHART: 06 UTC 24 SEPTEMBERSYNOPTIC CHART: 06 UTC 24 SEPTEMBERSYNOPTIC CHART: 06 UTC 24 SEPTEMBERSYNOPTIC CHART: 06 UTC 24 SEPTEMBER

ZEUS LIGHTNING DATAZEUS LIGHTNING DATAZEUS LIGHTNING DATAZEUS LIGHTNING DATA

RAINGAUGE DATARAINGAUGE DATARAINGAUGE DATARAINGAUGE DATA

01-03 UTC

METEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBER

METEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBER0200 UTC

0215 UTC

0230 UTC

0245 UTC

01-03 UTC

RADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m aglRADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m aglRADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m aglRADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m agl

LIGHTNING MAP ARRAYLIGHTNING MAP ARRAYLIGHTNING MAP ARRAYLIGHTNING MAP ARRAY

WRF (v. 3.4.1) NESTED DOMAINSWRF (v. 3.4.1) NESTED DOMAINS(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)

WRF (v. 3.4.1) NESTED DOMAINSWRF (v. 3.4.1) NESTED DOMAINS(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)

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WRF setupWRF setup(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)

WRF setupWRF setup(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)(6 and 2 km horizontal grid increment)

Initialization: ECMWF analyses

Start: 1200 UTC 23 September 2012End: 0000 UTC 25 September 2012

Two-way nesting, 40 vertical levels

Microphysics: Morrison double-moment microphysical scheme, 5 species (cloud droplets, cloud ice, snow, rain and graupel)

Kain-Fritch convective parameterization scheme activated only in Grid 1

WRF Grid 1 mslp, 10-m wind and precipitation

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WRF Grid 1 Θe, wind and geopotential at the 850 hPa level

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WRF Grid 2 precipitation forecast 00-06 UTC

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WRF Grid 2 precipitation forecast: 06-12 UTC

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WRF Grid 2 hourly precipitation+10 m wind valid at 01-04 UTC

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WRF Grid 2 vertical velocity at 0100-0400 UTC 24 September

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WRF ice, snow and graupel mixing ratios at 0300 UTC 24 September

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CONCLUDING REMARKS-PROSPECTSCONCLUDING REMARKS-PROSPECTSCONCLUDING REMARKS-PROSPECTSCONCLUDING REMARKS-PROSPECTS•The case presented a very interesting convective nature, especially during the first 6 hours of the day (24 September 2012) with rain exceeding 80 mm in 6 hours, increased lightning activity and deep development (as seen by the Nimes radar and LMA data)

•WRF simulation was in general successful, while the microphysical characteristics of the model-generated convection were coherent with the observed zone of lightning activity

Prospects: study the life-cycle of the microphysical characteristics of the event, in conjunction with radar and lightning data Perform additional cloud resolving simulations with WRF for other IOPs, comparison with other models.

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THANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOU

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ADDITIONAL MATERIALADDITIONAL MATERIALADDITIONAL MATERIALADDITIONAL MATERIAL

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06-08 UTC

RADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m aglRADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m aglRADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m aglRADAR REFLECTIVITY-2000 m agl

06-08 UTC

METEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBERMETEOSAT-IR 24 SEPTEMBER