Abstract
Land cover information is fundamental in numerical weather prediction
and climate modelling because of its impact on the land surface heat,
momentum, and moisture fluxes. A new land cover (LC) dataset for the
European region is introduced here for the WRF (Weather Research and
Forecasting) model coupled with the Noah-MP surface scheme. As part of
the Copernicus program the satellite-based Coordination of Information
on the Environment (CORINE) LC dataset is available for most of the
European continent at high resolution (100 m). This dataset provides a
more detailed land cover classification compared to the default WRF LC
database over Europe. Its potential applications range from urban
numerical studies to regional climate modelling. The CORINE dataset is
incorporated into WRF at two different resolutions of 0.00208333° and
0.00416666°. Furthermore, the original 44-category CORINE LC for the WRF
model is converted to the USGS LC categories for applications where less
detailed but still up-to-date information is desired. It is shown that
the application of the CORINE LC dataset not only affects near-surface
temperatures (by ≈1 °C on average and ≈3-6 °C over urban areas) but
precipitation, snow cover, and wind speed as well.