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@PHDTHESIS{Frick:283548,
author = {Frick, Claudia},
title = {{T}he numerical modeling of wet snowfall events},
school = {ETH Zurich},
type = {Dr.},
publisher = {Zürich, ETH},
reportid = {FZJ-2016-01864, 20624},
pages = {138},
year = {2012},
note = {ETH Zurich, Diss., 2013},
abstract = {The prediction of snowfall is particularly challenging for
numerical weather prediction models. At the beginning of
this dissertation, an event of wet and heavy snowfall in NW
Germany is investigated. Simulations reveal a low
predictability of the event more than one day in advance. An
appropriate simulation of the synoptic scale processes is as
essential for an accurate snowfall prediction as an adequate
microphysical representation of precipitation. Even for a
perfect simulation of the dynamics and the atmospheric
background conditions, the phase of surface precipitation is
difficult to predict, especially under near-surface melting
conditions. Additionally, a direct simulation of partially
melted snowfall is not possible for the standard
microphysical parameterization of the COSMO model.
Therefore, the development and implementation of a new
melting scheme including a new prognostic variable, the
meltwater of snow, is presented. The introduced bulk
microphysical parameterization allows an internal mixing of
water and ice in the snow category of the COSMO model.
Liquid water fraction is assumed to vary with the size in
the represented snowflake ensemble, leading to a faster
melting of smaller snowflakes compared to larger ones. For a
first validation of the effects of the new melting scheme,
two wet snowfall events are simulated using the standard and
the new parameterization. Approximately one third of the
surface precipitation is predicted as snowfall for both
schemes with 1 to 2 percent higher snow fractions for the
new melting scheme. A categorization of surface snowfall in
dry and wet snow for the new parameterization reveals that
approximately one third of the surface snowfall is predicted
to be wet snow. The modified melting process of the new
parameterization leads to an onset of rain at lower
altitudes and a deeper vertical penetration of snow into the
potential melting layer. The evolution of the precipitation
phase from snow to rain is decelerated especially for snow
fractions below 40 percent and liquid to ice ratios larger
than 1. Overall, the new melting scheme slows down the
melting process, slightly enhances surface snow fraction,
and allows a direct prediction of wet snowfall at the
surface. The new melting scheme also allows a realistic
simulation of a melting layer of wet snow, which is related
to the “bright band” in radar imagery.},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)29 / PUB:(DE-HGF)11},
doi = {10.3929/ethz-a-007595470},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/283548},
}