The formulation of the MC2 model used in this study is
described in detail
by Benoit et al. (1997). Advection is semi-Lagrangian with a semi-implicit
time step. The
Recherche en Prévision Numérique full-physics package is
used, which is similar to that used with the Canadian
Meteorological
Centre's (CMC) suite of operational models. The force-restore method
(Deardorff 1978) describes surface exchanges, and a
1.5 order
turbulent-kinetic energy predictive equation (Benoit
et al. 1989)
parameterizes vertical turbulent diffusion. Surface forecasts are
specified at shelter height (2 m) and anemometer
height (10 m) using a
surface-layer model based on similarity theory. The model uses a one-way
(cascade) nesting strategy, where a coarse-grid
forecast provides initial
and boundary conditions for a fine-grid forecast, and
there is no upscale
feedback. A 90
km resolution is initialized at 00 UTC, a 30 km grid begins
its forecast at 6 UTC, and a 10 km resolution grid
begins at 12 UTC. The
six-hour time increment is chosen to allow
inertial-gravity waves to
disperse from the coarser grid before it is used to
initialize the finer
grid. This is
also the next synoptic time, and a new surface analysis is
available to update the model fields.
Benoit, Robert, J. Coté, and Jocelyn Mailhot,
1989: Inclusion of a TKE
boundary layer parameterization in the Canadian
regional finite-element
model. Mon.
Wea. Rev., 117, 1726-1750.
Benoit, Robert, M. Desgagné, P. Pellerin, S.
Perllerin, Y. Chartier, S.
Desjardins, 1997:
The Canadian MC2: A semi-Lagrangian, semi-implicit
wideband atmospheric model suited for finescale
process studies and
simulations.
Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 2382-2415.
Deardorff, J.W., 1978: Efficient prediction of ground
surface temperature
and moisture with inclusion of a layer of
vegetation. J. Geophys. Res.,
83, 1889-1903.