Recommended citation: Coll-Hidalgo, P.; Pérez-Alarcón, A.; González-Jardines, P. M. (2020). Evaluation of Microphysics Schemes in WRF-ARW Model for Numerical Wind Forecast in José Martí Airport. Environ. Sci. Proc., 4, 31, doi: 10.3390/ecas2020-08121

Abstact

A sensitivity study was developed with Lin, Morrison 2-moment, WSM5 (WRF Single-Moment 5-class), and WSM6 (WRF Single-Moment 6-class) microphysics schemes available in the WRF-ARW (Weather Research and Forecasting-Advanced Research WRF) for the numerical forecast of the wind field at “José Martí” International Airport, in Cuba. The selection of these schemes was based on their use in numerical weather forecast systems operating in Cuba. As case studies, five storms associated with synoptic patterns that cause dangerous conditions at this aerodrome were selected. The simulations were initialized at 0000 UTC with the forecast outputs of the GFS (Global Forecast System) model. The schemes were evaluated according to the representation of the wind field in the region where the airport is located, the headlands, and the center of the runway. The errors observed are strongly dependent on the occurrence of convection, especially on the intensity and the factors that cause it. During the dry season (November-April), the lowest errors are observed, while the worst performance is appreciable for the rainy period (May-October). Lin and WSM6 schemes reproduce the best behavior of the wind field on the aerodrome.