A numerical simulation of latent heating within Typhoon Molave

• Published in: Acta oceanologica Sinica 2017-07, Vol.36 (7), p.39-47
• Main Authors: Liu, Yang, Lin, Wenshi, Li, Jiangnan, Wang, Gang, Yang, Song, Feng, Yerong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accretion; Atmospheric precipitations; Climatology; Cloud microphysics; Clouds; Computer simulation; Condensation; Crystals; Deposition; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Environmental Chemistry; Evaporation; Forecasting; Graupel; Heat; Heating; Heating rate; Hurricanes; Ice; Ice crystals; Isotherms; Latent heat; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Mathematical models; Melting; Mesoscale phenomena; Numerical models; Numerical simulations; Oceanography; Precipitation; Rain; Rain water; Rainfall; Simulation; Snow; Stellar winds; Structures; Sublimation; Tropical climate; Tropical rainfall; Typhoons; Weather; Weather forecasting; 中尺度数值模式; 云微物理过程; 冰晶云; 动力结构; 台风路径; 数值模拟; 潜热; 预报模式
• ISSN: 0253-505X; 1869-1099
• DOI: 10.1007/s13131-017-1082-3

The weather research and forecasting（WRF） model is a new generation mesoscale numerical model with a fine grid resolution（2 km）, making it ideal to simulate the macro-and micro-physical processes and latent heating within Typhoon Molave（2009）. Simulations based on a single-moment, six-class microphysical scheme are shown to be reasonable, following verification of results for the typhoon track, wind intensity, precipitation pattern, as well as inner-core thermodynamic and dynamic structures. After calculating latent heating rate, it is concluded that the total latent heat is mainly derived from condensation below the zero degree isotherm, and from deposition above this isotherm. It is revealed that cloud microphysical processes related to graupel are the most important contributors to the total latent heat. Other important latent heat contributors in the simulated Typhoon Molave are condensation of cloud water, deposition of cloud ice, deposition of snow, initiation of cloud ice crystals, deposition of graupel, accretion of cloud water by graupel, evaporation of cloud water and rainwater,sublimation of snow, sublimation of graupel, melting of graupel, and sublimation of cloud ice. In essence, the simulated latent heat profile is similar to ones recorded by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, although specific values differ slightly.