The Influence of Soil Moisture, Coastline Curvature, and Land-Breeze Circulations on Sea-Breeze-Initiated Precipitation

Abstract

Idealized numerical simulations of Florida convection are performed with a coupled atmosphere-land surface model to identify the roles of initial soil moisture, coastline curvature, and land-breeze circulations on seabreeze-initiated precipitation. The 3D Goddard Cumulus Ensemble cloud-resolving model is coupled with the Goddard Parameterization for Land-Atmosphere-Cloud Exchange land surface model, thus providing a tool to simulate more realistically land surface-atmosphere interaction and convective initiation. Eight simulations are conducted with either straight or curved coastlines, initially homogeneous soil moisture or initially variable soil moisture, and initially homogeneous horizontal winds or initially variable horizontal winds (land breezes). An additional simulation is performed to assess the role of Lake Okeechobee on convective development.