High-resolution atmospheric boundary layer simulations using WRF-LES

WRF model provides a potentially powerful framework for coupled simulations of flow covering a wide range of
spatial and temporal scales via a successive grid nesting capability. Nesting can be repeated down to turbulence
solving large eddy simulation (LES) scales, providing a means for significant improvements of simulation of
turbulent atmospheric boundary layers. We will present the recent progress on our WRF-LES simulations of
the Perdigao Experiment performed over mountainous terrain. We performed multi-scale simulations using
WRF’s different Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) parameterizations as well as Large Eddy Simulation (LES)
and compared the results with the detailed field measurements. WRF-LES model improved the mean flow field
as well as second-order flow statistics. Mean fluctuations and turbulent kinetic energy fields from WRF-LES
solution are investigated in several cross-sections around the hill which shows good agreement with measurements.