Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9463-904X

Advisor

Dyer, Jamie L..

Committee Member

Mercer, Andrew E.

Committee Member

Rudzin, Johna

Date of Degree

5-16-2025

Original embargo terms

Visible MSU Only 1 year

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Geoscience (Professional Meteorology and Climatology)

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

The focus of this research was to analyze the influence of horizontal grid spacing on numerical simulations of kinetic and thermal forced clear air turbulence (CAT) by quantifying uncertainty using a resolution ensemble. Previous studies indicated that microscale (<1km) spatial resolutions are necessary to resolve turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) with low uncertainty. Six case studies of moderate or greater CAT, from pilot reports, were simulated at six horizontal grid spacings including 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32km using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model. Results showed that grid spacing does influence the magnitude of uncertainty; however, the relationship between the grid spacings varied with the type of CAT being simulated and the addition of the cumulus parameterization scheme for grid spacings greater than 4km. Overall, higher precision was found between convective resolutions (1-4km), indicating that microscale resolutions are not necessary to precisely simulate TKE for CAT forecasts.

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