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Land surface processes and climate modeling

A simple but realistic parameterization of ground wetness is developed and implemented in the FSUGSM to model in climate. Specifically, a soil moisture parameter based on a moisture budget, is introduced to estimate the Bowen ratio. It is expressed as an evolutive function of the model predicted rainfall, surface temperature and takes into account ground characteristics through its dependence on albedo and surface elevation. This scheme is used in conjunction with a prognostic equation for surface temperature to determine the surface fluxes. / A global spectral model is used to perform two parallel forecasts, one of which includes the new scheme. Monthly situations for selected variables are presented. Comparison of the components of the surface energy balance are carried out for different types of climatic regime over Africa during summer. / The new scheme captures the essence of the known physics in simple formulation of the processes and introduced interesting modulation of the fluxes. Reduction of the surface temperature and its diurnal cycle is observed. This is particularly evident over arid zones. / An important and coherent interaction between the physical processes has resulted from the introduction of the scheme and led to better representation of the distribution of the heat sources at the surface. / Realistic rainfall rates and distribution are obtained over the Sahelian region. / Significant improvement has been introduced in the prediction of primary variables near the surface. The effect of the new land surface processes parameterization was, however, not clearly discernible in the upper level model atmosphere structure. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-10, Section: B, page: 5251. / Major Professor: T. N. Krishnamurti. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76778
ContributorsBounoua, Lahouari., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format210 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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