Impact of Lateral Groundwater Flow and Subsurface Lower Boundary Conditions on Atmospheric Boundary Layer Development over Complex Terrain

Forrester, M. M.; Maxwell, R. M.

doi:10.1175/jhm-d-19-0029.1

Cited by 17 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 86 publications

(107 reference statements)

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“…Even though the reliable surface energy fluxes are constrained by facticity of EC measurements and observation limitation, our results show that the coupled WRF‐Hydro simulation very slightly and partly improves the simulated surface energy fluxes compared to the WRF atmospheric simulation. Nevertheless, we note that the groundwater lateral flow, which is not considered in this study, may functionally modulate the land surface variables via groundwater‐surface water interactions, particularly over the low‐lying areas where the groundwater table is shallow (e.g., Davison et al, 2018; Forrester & Maxwell, 2020; Maxwell et al, 2015; Sulis et al, 2017). While our model configuration approximates the hydrological processes across most of the high‐mountain terrain over this headwater area, further coupling physically‐based groundwater schemes can improve the realistic representation of hydrological processes over the mountain valley and lower reaches in the desert (e.g., Wang et al, 2014; Xie et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…By comparing two coupled modelling platforms ParFlow‐WRF and TerrSysMP, Sulis et al (2017) showed the differences of heat and moisture budget in the land surface and atmospheric boundary layer, revealing the sensitivities of diurnal atmospheric processes to the lateral groundwater flow parameterization. In the case of a headwater region in the Rocky Mountain, Forrester and Maxwell (2020) reported that lateral transport of groundwater modified the coupling strength between evaporative fraction and atmospheric boundary layer in the summertime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diurnal cycle of surface energy fluxes in high mountain terrain: High‐resolution fully coupled atmosphere‐hydrology modelling and impact of lateral flow

Zhang

Arnault

Laux

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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Water and energy fluxes are inextricably interlinked within the interface of the land surface and the atmosphere. In the regional earth system models, the lower boundary parameterization of land surface neglects lateral hydrological processes, which may inadequately depict the surface water and energy fluxes variations, thus affecting the simulated atmospheric system through land‐atmosphere feedbacks. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the hydrologically enhanced regional climate modelling in order to represent the diurnal cycle of surface energy fluxes in high spatial and temporal resolution. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) and coupled WRF Hydrological modelling system (WRF‐Hydro) are applied in a high alpine catchment in Northeastern Tibetan Plateau, the headwater area of the Heihe River. By evaluating and intercomparing model results by both models, the role of lateral flow processes on the surface energy fluxes dynamics is investigated. The model evaluations suggest that both WRF and coupled WRF‐Hydro reasonably represent the diurnal variations of the near‐surface meteorological fields, surface energy fluxes and hourly partitioning of available energy. By incorporating additional lateral flow processes, the coupled WRF‐Hydro simulates higher surface soil moisture over the mountainous area, resulting in increased latent heat flux and decreased sensible heat flux of around 20–50 W/m2 in their diurnal peak values during summertime, although the net radiation and ground heat fluxes remain almost unchanged. The simulation results show that the diurnal cycle of surface energy fluxes follows the local terrain and vegetation features. This highlights the importance of consideration of lateral flow processes over areas with heterogeneous terrain and land surfaces.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diurnal cycle of surface energy fluxes in high mountain terrain: High‐resolution fully coupled atmosphere‐hydrology modelling and impact of lateral flow

Zhang

Arnault

Laux

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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“…Groundwater connections to the atmosphere are welldocumented in modeling studies (e.g., Forrester and Maxwell, 2020). Previous studies have demonstrated connections between the atmospheric boundary layer and water table depth (e.g., Maxwell et al, 2007;Rahman et al, 2015), under land cover disturbance (e.g., Forrester et al, 2018), under extremes (e.g., Kuene et al, 2016), and due to groundwater pumping (Gilbert et al, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

GMD perspective: The quest to improve the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models

et al. 2021

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Abstract. Continental- to global-scale hydrologic and land surface models increasingly include representations of the groundwater system. Such large-scale models are essential for examining, communicating, and understanding the dynamic interactions between the Earth system above and below the land surface as well as the opportunities and limits of groundwater resources. We argue that both large-scale and regional-scale groundwater models have utility, strengths, and limitations, so continued modeling at both scales is essential and mutually beneficial. A crucial quest is how to evaluate the realism, capabilities, and performance of large-scale groundwater models given their modeling purpose of addressing large-scale science or sustainability questions as well as limitations in data availability and commensurability. Evaluation should identify if, when, or where large-scale models achieve their purpose or where opportunities for improvements exist so that such models better achieve their purpose. We suggest that reproducing the spatiotemporal details of regional-scale models and matching local data are not relevant goals. Instead, it is important to decide on reasonable model expectations regarding when a large-scale model is performing “well enough” in the context of its specific purpose. The decision of reasonable expectations is necessarily subjective even if the evaluation criteria are quantitative. Our objective is to provide recommendations for improving the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models. We describe current modeling strategies and evaluation practices, and we subsequently discuss the value of three evaluation strategies: (1) comparing model outputs with available observations of groundwater levels or other state or flux variables (observation-based evaluation), (2) comparing several models with each other with or without reference to actual observations (model-based evaluation), and (3) comparing model behavior with expert expectations of hydrologic behaviors in particular regions or at particular times (expert-based evaluation). Based on evolving practices in model evaluation as well as innovations in observations, machine learning, and expert elicitation, we argue that combining observation-, model-, and expert-based model evaluation approaches, while accounting for commensurability issues, may significantly improve the realism of groundwater representation in large-scale models, thus advancing our ability for quantification, understanding, and prediction of crucial Earth science and sustainability problems. We encourage greater community-level communication and cooperation on this quest, including among global hydrology and land surface modelers, local to regional hydrogeologists, and hydrologists focused on model development and evaluation.

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“…Groundwater connections to the atmosphere are well documented in modeling studies (e.g. Forrester and Maxwell, 2020). Previous studies have demonstrated connections between the atmospheric boundary layer and water table depth (e.g.…”

Section: Why and How Is Groundwater Modeled At Continental To Global mentioning

confidence: 98%

HESS Opinions: Improving the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental to global scale models

Gleeson

Wagener

Doell

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Abstract. Continental- to global-scale hydrologic and land surface models increasingly include representations of the groundwater system, driven by crucial Earth science and sustainability problems. These models are essential for examining, communicating, and understanding the dynamic interactions between the Earth System above and below the land surface as well as the opportunities and limits of groundwater resources. A key question for this nascent and rapidly developing field is how to evaluate the realism and performance of such large-scale groundwater models given limitations in data availability and commensurability. Our objective is to provide clear recommendations for improving the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models. We identify three evaluation approaches, including comparing model outputs with available observations of groundwater levels or other state or flux variables (observation-based evaluation); comparing several models with each other with or without reference to actual observations (model-based evaluation); and comparing model behavior with expert expectations of hydrologic behaviors that we expect to see in particular regions or at particular times (expert-based evaluation). Based on current and evolving practices in model evaluation as well as innovations in observations, machine learning and expert elicitation, we argue that combining observation-, model-, and expert-based model evaluation approaches may significantly improve the realism of groundwater representation in large-scale models, and thus our quantification, understanding, and prediction of crucial Earth science and sustainability problems. We encourage greater community-level communication and cooperation on these challenges, including among global hydrology and land surface modelers, local to regional hydrogeologists, and hydrologists focused on model development and evaluation.

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Impact of Lateral Groundwater Flow and Subsurface Lower Boundary Conditions on Atmospheric Boundary Layer Development over Complex Terrain

Cited by 17 publications

References 86 publications

Diurnal cycle of surface energy fluxes in high mountain terrain: High‐resolution fully coupled atmosphere‐hydrology modelling and impact of lateral flow

Diurnal cycle of surface energy fluxes in high mountain terrain: High‐resolution fully coupled atmosphere‐hydrology modelling and impact of lateral flow

GMD perspective: The quest to improve the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models

HESS Opinions: Improving the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental to global scale models

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