Impact of model resolution and turbulence scheme on the representation of mountain waves and turbulence.
Siri Jagan, R. and J. Schmidli (2026)
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 26 (19), 13721–13741. doi: 10.5194/acp-26-13721-2026
Short summary:
Air flowing over mountains generates waves reaching high into the atmosphere, sometimes producing turbulence relevant to aircraft safety and forecasting. Using simulations tested against aircraft observations, we found that fine detail is needed to capture small-scale features realistically, while overall wave patterns emerge at coarser resolution regardless of turbulence scheme. This work can help improve flight safety and weather predictions by making turbulence forecasts more reliable.
Related TPChange projects:
B06 Impact of small-scale dynamics on UTLS transport and mixing