Abstract
This study unveils the ability of 200-m near to Large-Eddy Simulation
(LES) to resolve smaller scales in urban areas of a coastal megacity
Chennai in India, which are crucial for accurately modelling Urban
Induced Turbulence (UIT) and Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects. Unlike
physics-based ensemble (PBE) models in kilometre-scale simulations, LES
captures fine-scale atmospheric dynamics, offering enhanced resolution
to simulate localized turbulence and heat flux variations. With a
resolution of 200 m, Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) LES simulation
can convincingly resolve a higher urban heat flux, friction velocity,
surface wind speeds, and moisture transport over urban areas. These
factors are found to play a critical role in intensifying extreme
weather events such as heavy rainfall, especially in the downwind
regions of coastal megacities like Chennai. This phenomenon is driven by
LES-resolved interaction between the urban heat island effect and the
prevailing winds.