@article{fdi:010064759,
  title = {{T}he sensitivity of nocturnal low-level jets and near-surface winds over the {S}ahel to model resolution, initial conditions and boundary-layer set-up},
  author = {{S}chepanski, {K}. and {K}nippertz, {P}. and {F}iedler, {S}. and {T}imouk, {F}ranck and {D}emarty, {J}{\'e}rome},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}his study explores simulations using the numerical {W}eather {R}esearch and {F}orecasting ({WRF}) model, with respect to the representation of the nocturnal low-level jet ({LLJ}) over the {S}ahel. {T}hree sets of experiments are designed to investigate the sensitivity with respect to (i) the boundary-layer and surface-layer schemes including local and non-local closures, (ii) the horizontal grid spacing and the number of vertical levels within the lowest kilometre and (iii) the role of initial and boundary data. {I}n total, 27 simulations are performed on one host domain and two nested domains for a representative {LLJ} case study on 9 {N}ovember 2006. {T}he ability of the individual simulations to represent the life cycle of the nocturnal {LLJ} is validated against observations carried out in the framework of the {A}frican {M}onsoon {M}ultidisciplinary {A}nalysis ({AMMA}) special observation periods: surface wind observations from {A}goufou, {B}amba and {B}anizoumbou, atmospheric wind profiles derived from {A}tmospheric {R}adiation {M}easurement {M}obile {F}acility, wind radar measurements at {N}iamey and profiles from radiosondes launched at {N}iamey. {A}ll runs reproduce the general characteristics of the observed {LLJ}s satisfactorily. {I}n contrast to earlier studies, results are more sensitive to the choice of initial and boundary data (here {GFS} and {ECMWF}) than to the boundary-layer and surface schemes used or to model grid resolution. {T}he sensitivity to the model grid resolution is surprisingly minor. {C}onsiderable differences between the individual stations suggest that local surface conditions such as roughness length, albedo or soil moisture may play an important role in the observed mismatch between model simulations and observations.},
  keywords = {nocturnal low-level jet ; regional modeling ; {AMMA} ; {S}ahel ; {WRF} ; {SAHEL} ; {NIGER}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{Q}uarterly {J}ournal of the {R}oyal {M}eteorological {S}ociety},
  volume = {141},
  numero = {689},
  pages = {1442--1456},
  ISSN = {0035-9009},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1002/qj.2453},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064759},
}