Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Sensitivity Of Planetary Boundary Layer To Varying Volumetric Soil Moisture: A Mesoscale Models Comparision, Asrid Suarez Gonzalez

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

A comparison between two Mesoscale models, Colorado State University Regional Atmospheric Model System (RAMS) version 4.4 coupled with the Land‐Ecosystem– Atmosphere Feedback Model (LEAF2) and Penn State/NCAR’s Mesoscale Model (MM5) coupled with NOAH Land Surface Model, was conducted in order to assess the sensitivity of forecasted boundary layer variables to anomalous volumetric soil moistures. The study elaborates on the findings of Quintanar et al. (2008) using the study’s experimental design as a template for our numerical model comparison. The experiments were conducted using the same synoptic events examined by Quintanar et al. (2008): June 11, June 17 and June 22, …