WRF simulations of the thermal and dynamical effects of urbanization
under a weak synoptic forcing: a case study in Hangzhou, China
Abstract
The urban morphology determined by urban canopy parameters (UCPs) plays
an important role in simulating the interaction of urban land surface
and atmosphere. The impact of urbanization on a typical summer rainfall
event in Hangzhou, China, is investigated using the integrated WRF/urban
modelling system. Three groups of numerical experiments are designed to
assess the uncertainty in parameterization schemes, the sensitivity of
urban canopy parameters (UCPs), and the individual and combined impacts
of thermal and dynamical effects of urbanization, respectively. The
results suggest that the microphysics scheme has the highest level of
uncertainty in simulating precipitation, followed by the planetary
boundary layer scheme, whereas the land surface and urban physics
schemes have minimal impacts. The choices of the physical
parameterization schemes for simulating precipitation are much more
sensitive than those for simulating temperature, mixing ratio, and wind
speed. Of the eight selected UCPs, changes in heat capacity, thermal
conductivity, surface albedo, and roughness length have a greater impact
on temperature, mixing ratio, and precipitation, while changes in
building height, roof width, and road width affect the wind speed more.
The total urban impact could lead to higher temperature, less mixing
ratio, lower wind speed, and more precipitation in and around the urban
area. Comparing the thermal and dynamical effects of urbanization
separately, both of them contribute to an increase in temperature and
precipitation and the thermal effect plays a major role. However, their
impacts are opposite in changes of mixing ratio and wind speed, and each
play a major role respectively.