Investigation of sea-breeze/foehn in the Dead Sea valley employing high resolution WRF and observations

Kunin, Pavel; Alpert, Pinhas; Rostkier‐Edelstein, Dorita

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.06.012

Cited by 21 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Data of higher spatial resolution are also available, such as Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) nighttime data and MODIS data [17]. In order to find out how up-to-date regional atmospheric models describe skin temperature distribution over the Dead Sea valley, we used the high-resolution Weather Forecast and Research (WRF) mesoscale atmospheric model daily simulations of skin temperature [21]. The Unified Noah Land Surface Model [22] was chosen as a land-surface scheme for the WRF simulations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A series of sensitivity simulations was performed by Kunin et al [21] in order to calibrate and validate the WRF model runs over the Dead Sea valley. This was carried out using available observations of near surface and atmospheric variables [21]. As a result of the above-mentioned sensitivity study, the best model configuration was found.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This configuration consisted of four nested domains over the Eastern Mediterranean region with horizontal resolutions of 30, 10, 3.3, and 1.1 km grid respectively. The inner domain with the 1.1 km grid space was focused on the Dead Sea and surrounding land areas (Kunin et al [21], their Figure 2). The model configuration included 40 vertical levels up to 50 hPa (with 20 of these vertical levels within the lowest 1.5 km above the surface); land use/vegetation provided by the 15-s resolution MODIS dataset; NCEP Global Analysis and Forecast (GFS) data for the atmospheric and soil initial and boundary conditions [21].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the 15-year record of MODIS/Aqua data, at 01:30 LT, on average over the JAS summer months, SST was equal to 30.4 • C, 31.0 • C, and 30.9 • C for Te, Tm, and Tw respectively ( Table 1). This spatial uniformity is the result of vertical water mixing under strong nighttime winds in the Dead Sea valley [3,21].…”

Section: Spatial Uniformity Of Nighttime Sst In the Summer Monthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For better understanding of regional atmospheric dynamics over the complex topography of the Dead Sea valley, model calculations are essential, as available observations are normally limited in space and time [21,27,28]. It is important to know how up-to-date regional atmospheric models describe skin temperature distribution over the Dead Sea valley.…”

Section: Comparing Satellite-based Sst/lst Distribution With That Usementioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial Non-Uniformity of Surface Temperature of the Dead Sea and Adjacent Land Areas

et al. 2019

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Pronounced spatial non-uniformity has been obtained of daytime sea surface temperature (SST) of the Dead Sea and of land surface temperature (LST) over areas adjacent to the Dead Sea. This non-uniformity was observed in the summer months, under uniform solar radiation. Our findings are based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016) on board the Terra and Aqua satellites. MODIS data showed that, on average for the 15-year study period, daytime SST over the eastern part of the lake (Te) exceeded by 5 • C that over the western part (Tw). This SST non-uniformity (observed in the absence of surface heat flow from land to sea at the eastern side) was accompanied by spatial non-uniform distribution of land surface temperature (LST) over areas adjacent to the Dead Sea. Specifically, LST over areas adjacent to the eastern side exceeded by 10 • C that over areas adjacent to the western side. Our findings of spatial non-uniformity of SST/LST based on MODIS data were supported by Meteosat Second Generation LST records. Regional atmospheric warming led to a decrease in spatial non-uniformity of SST during the study period. Temperature difference between Te and Tw steadily decreased at the rate of 0.32 • C decade −1 , based on MODIS/Terra data, and 0.54 • C decade −1 , based on MODIS/Aqua data. Our simulations of monthly skin temperature distribution over the Dead Sea by the Weather Forecast and Research (WRF) model contradict satellite observations. The application to modeling of the observed SST/LST spatial non-uniformity will advance our knowledge of atmospheric dynamics over hypersaline lakes. the daytime. Little is known about the patterns of Dead Sea surface temperature. Nehorai et al. [3] discussed that the SST field is heterogeneous in the daytime and homogeneous in the nighttime. Kishcha et al. [7] showed that, in the summer months, the spatial distribution of daytime Dead Sea surface temperature was non-uniform with maximal SST observed near the coastline, while minimal SST was observed in the middle of the Dead Sea. Further investigation of spatial non-uniformity of SST will advance the general understanding of SST-related atmospheric processes not only over the Dead Sea but also over other hypersaline lakes.Buoy measurements of temperature vertical profiles in the Dead Sea provide information about water temperature at different depths [3,[8][9][10][11]. There are several studies on the Dead Sea SST [3,7,[12][13][14]. Kishcha et al. [7] showed that increasing warming of steadily shrinking Dead Sea surface water was observed during the period of 2000-2016. They found that a positive feedback loop between steady shrinking of the Dead Sea and positive sea surface temperature trends causes the acceleration of Dead Sea evaporation and water level drop [7].Available remote sensing observations of skin surface temperature from MODIS on board the two satellites-Terra and Aqua [15,16]-provided us with an opportun...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spatial Uniformity Of Nighttime Sst In the Summer Monthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Comparing Satellite-based Sst/lst Distribution With That Usementioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial Non-Uniformity of Surface Temperature of the Dead Sea and Adjacent Land Areas

et al. 2019

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Characteristics of the summer 3‐D katabatic flow in a semi‐arid zone—The case of the Dead Sea

Paperman

Potchter

Alpert

2021

Intl Journal of Climatology

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The katabatic winds have been studied over the slopes surrounding the Dead Sea (DS, in brevity), located at altitude of 433 m below sea level focusing on the summer season when the katabatic winds are most frequent, persistent and pronounced due to the summer stable weather conditions. The study observes the katabatic wind pulses, which are intermittent, via 3-D innovative measurement tools with high time and space resolution employing Energy Balance Stations, Radiosondes and Lidars. The nocturnal katabatic pulses were investigated employing vertical depth, wind direction/intensity, duration, number of pulses and the time intervals separating them, as well as the begin and termination times during August 2014. The average direction of the pulses depends on the nearby slopes orientations while the intensity depends on the station's elevation and its location relative to the slope. The average katabatic number of pulses, duration, time intervals and their beginning and terminating times were found to strongly depend on the other local flows. The average vertical depth of the katabatic layer from both sides of the DS, in Israel and Jordan, was found to be at 450-950 m above ground level, depending on the measurement time period as well as the tools' sensitivities employing the "KIT cube system"-an advanced integrated atmospheric observation system, which allows 3-D accurate analysis of the detailed katabatic wind pulses over the DS. The average number of the katabatic pulses was found to be $2.9-3.5 pul-sesÁnight −1 . The average duration of each pulse was $69-94 min and the time interval separating them $32-44 min depending on the flows which interrupt the pulses. The starting time of first katabatic pulse in local time was 0113 LST (±0119). These findings are of great relevance for the DS evaporation as well as bio-meteorological and pollution aspects.

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Understanding summer wind systems over the eastern Mediterranean in a high‐resolution climate simulation

Latt

Hochman

Caldas-Álvarez

et al. 2022

Intl Journal of Climatology

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Regional and local wind systems are often complex, particularly near coastal areas with a highly variable orography. Thus, the realistic representation of regional wind systems in weather and climate models is of strong relevance. Here, we evaluate the ability of a 13‐year convection‐permitting climate simulation in reproducing the interaction of several regional summer wind systems over the complex orography in the eastern Mediterranean region. The COSMO‐CLM simulations are driven by hourly ERA‐5 reanalysis and have a spatial resolution of 2.8 and 7.0 km. The simulated near‐surface wind fields are compared with unique very high‐resolution wind observations collected within the “Dead Sea Research Venue” project (DESERVE) and data from the Israel Meteorological Service synop network. The high‐resolution COSMO‐CLM simulations largely reproduce the main characteristics of the regional wind systems (Mediterranean and Dead Sea breeze, slope winds in the Judean Mountains and winds along the Jordan Rift valley), whereas ERA‐5 is only able to represent the Mediterranean Sea breeze. The high‐resolution simulations substantially improve the representation of regional winds, particularly over complex orography. Indeed, the 2.8 km simulation outperforms the 7.0 km run, on 88% of the days. Two mid‐July 2015 case studies show that only the 2.8 simulation can realistically simulate the penetration of the Mediterranean Sea Breeze into the Jordan Rift valley and complex interactions with other wind systems like the Dead Sea breeze. Our results may have profound implications for regional weather and climate prediction since very high‐resolution information seems to be necessary to reproduce the main summertime climatic features in this region. We envisage that such simulations may also be required at other regions with complex orography.

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Investigation of sea-breeze/foehn in the Dead Sea valley employing high resolution WRF and observations

Cited by 21 publications

References 47 publications

Spatial Non-Uniformity of Surface Temperature of the Dead Sea and Adjacent Land Areas

Spatial Non-Uniformity of Surface Temperature of the Dead Sea and Adjacent Land Areas

Characteristics of the summer 3‐D katabatic flow in a semi‐arid zone—The case of the Dead Sea

Understanding summer wind systems over the eastern Mediterranean in a high‐resolution climate simulation

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