Investigation of Cloud Microphysical Features During the Passage of a Tropical Mesoscale Convective System: Numerical Simulations and X-Band Radar Observations

This study examined a typical case of deep convective storm that formed over southwest India on October 12, 2011, using ground-based X-band radar measurements and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations. The radar observation showed isolated pockets of convective storm, which merged later to form a convective cluster. The observed storms were tall, extending well into the mixed-phase region. Few storms even extended up to the tropopause height. Three different WRF cloud microphysics schemes (WRF Double-Moment 6-Class, Morrison Double-Moment, and Milbrandt-Yau Double-Moment) were used to simulate the observed deep convective storm to examine the vertical structure of hydrometeors. All the cloud microphysics schemes were able to reproduce the convective storm event with a lag time of almost two and a half hours. The WRF Double-Moment 6-Class scheme better simulates the vertical structure of storm compared to the other two microphysics schemes. The WRF model reasonably simulated the observed patterns of convective storm when the WRF cloud microphysics scheme better simulate the graupel and snow. The differences in simulated storm structure obtained by different microphysics schemes compared to observation highlight the deficiency involved in the simulations in capturing the microphysics that is guiding the intensity of convective storms. The present study thus underscores the importance of microphysics in different parameterization schemes of WRF simulation over southwest India, which has an implication in the forecasting of convective storms.

Automated summary

This study investigated a deep convective storm over southwest India on October 12, 2011, using ground-based X-band radar measurements and WRF model simulations. Different cloud microphysics schemes were utilized to simulate the storm, with the WRF Double-Moment 6-Class scheme showing better results in capturing the vertical structure of the storm. The study emphasizes the importance of microphysics in different parameterization schemes of WRF simulation for forecasting convective storms in southwest India.