Sensitivity of High-Resolution Simulations of Hurricane Bob (1991) to Planetary Boundary Layer Parameterizations

Abstract

The fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model is used to simulate Hurricane Bob (1991) using grids nested to high resolution (4 km). Tests are conducted to determine the sensitivity of the simulation to the available planetary boundary layer parameterizations, including the bulk aerodynamic, Blackadar, Medium-Range Forecast (MRF) model, and Burk-Thompson boundary layer schemes. Significant sensitivity is seen, with minimum central pressures varying by up to 16 mb and maximum winds by 15 m s 1 . The Burk-Thompson and bulk aerodynamic boundary layer schemes produced the strongest storms while the MRF scheme produced the weakest storm. Simulated horizontal precipitation structures varied substantially between the different PBL schemes, suggesting that accurate forecasts of precipitation in hurricanes can be just as sensitive to the formulation of the PBL as they are to the cloud microphysical parameterizations.