Regional model simulation of the North Atlantic cyclone "Caroline" and comparisons with satellite data

Keup-Thiel, E.; Klepp, C.-Ph.; Raschke, E.; Rockel, B.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-21-655-2003

Articles | Volume 21, issue 3

https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-21-655-2003

© Author(s) 2003. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-21-655-2003

© Author(s) 2003. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 21, issue 3

31 Mar 2003

| 31 Mar 2003

Regional model simulation of the North Atlantic cyclone "Caroline" and comparisons with satellite data

E. Keup-Thiel, C.-Ph. Klepp, E. Raschke, and B. Rockel

Abstract. An individual regional model simulation of cyclone "Caroline" has been carried out to study water cycle components over the North Atlantic Ocean. The uncertainties associated with quantitative estimates of the water cycle components are highlighted by a comparison of the model results with SSM/I (Special Sensor Microwave Imager) satellite data.

The vertically integrated water vapor of the REgional MOdel REMO is in good agreement with the SSM/I satellite data. The simulation results for other water budget components like the vertically integrated liquid water content and precipitation compare also reasonably well within the frontal system. However, the high precipitation rate in the cold air outbreak on the backside of the cold front derived from SSM/I satellite data is generally underestimated by REMO. This results in a considerable deficit of the total precipitation amount accumulated for the cyclone "Caroline". While REMO simulates 24.3 10⁸ m³ h^-1 for 09:00 UTC, the total areal precipitation from SSM/I satellite data amounts to 54.7 0⁸ m³ h^-1.

Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (precipitation; mesoscale meteorology) – Radio science (remote sensing)