Evaluation of the Weather Research and Forecasting model in simulating fire weather for the south-west of Western Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jatin Kala ◽  
Alyce Sala Tenna ◽  
Daniel Rudloff ◽  
Julia Andrys ◽  
Ole Rieke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
The South ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
South West ◽  
Forest Fire Danger ◽  
Weather Research

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to simulate fire weather for the south-west of Western Australia (SWWA) over multiple decades at a 5-km resolution using lateral boundary conditions from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA)-Interim reanalysis. Simulations were compared with observations at Australian Bureau of Meteorology meteorological stations and the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) was used to quantify fire weather. Results showed that, overall, the WRF reproduced the annual cumulative FFDI at most stations reasonably well, with most biases in the FFDI ranging between –600 and 600. Biases were highest at stations within the metropolitan region. The WRF simulated the geographical gradients in the FFDI across the domain well. The source of errors in the FFDI varied markedly between the different stations, with no one particular variable able to account for the errors at all stations. Overall, this study shows that the WRF is a useful model for simulating fire weather for SWWA, one of the most fire-prone regions in Australia.

Fire weather simulation skill by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model over south-east Australia from 1985 to 2009

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamish Clarke ◽  
Jason P. Evans ◽  
Andrew J. Pitman
Keyword(s):  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Grid Spacing ◽  
Skill Scores ◽  
Forest Fire Danger ◽  
Environmental Prediction ◽  
Weather Research

The fire weather of south-east Australia from 1985 to 2009 has been simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis supplied the lateral boundary conditions and initial conditions. The model simulated climate and the reanalysis were evaluated against station-based observations of the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) using probability density function skill scores, annual cumulative FFDI and days per year with FFDI above 50. WRF simulated the main features of the FFDI distribution and its spatial variation, with an overall positive bias. Errors in average FFDI were caused mostly by errors in the ability of WRF to simulate relative humidity. In contrast, errors in extreme FFDI values were driven mainly by WRF errors in wind speed simulation. However, in both cases the quality of the observed data is difficult to ascertain. WRF run with 50-km grid spacing did not consistently improve upon the reanalysis statistics. Decreasing the grid spacing to 10km led to fire weather that was generally closer to observations than the reanalysis across the full range of evaluation metrics used here. This suggests it is a very useful tool for modelling fire weather over the entire landscape of south-east Australia.

scholarly journals Suitability of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model to Predict the June 2005 Fire Weather for Interior Alaska

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 953-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Mölders
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Shortwave Radiation ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Forest Environment ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
Weather Research

Abstract Standard indices used in the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) and Fosberg fire-weather indices are calculated from Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations and observations in interior Alaska for June 2005. Evaluation shows that WRF is well suited for fire-weather prediction in a boreal forest environment at all forecast leads and on an ensemble average. Errors in meteorological quantities and fire indices marginally depend on forecast lead. WRF’s precipitation performance for interior Alaska is comparable to that of other mesoscale models applied to midlatitudes. WRF underestimates precipitation on average, but satisfactorily predicts precipitation ≥7.5 mm day−1, the threshold considered to reduce interior Alaska’s fire risk for several days. WRF slightly overestimates wind speed, but captures the temporal mean behavior accurately. WRF predicts the temporal evolution of daily temperature extremes, mean relative humidity, air and dewpoint temperature, and daily accumulated shortwave radiation well. Daily minimum (maximum) temperature and relative humidity are slightly overestimated (underestimated). Fire index trends are suitably predicted. Fire indices derived from daily mean predicted meteorological quantities are more reliable than those based on predicted daily extremes. Indirect evaluation by observed fires suggests that WRF-derived NFDRS indices reflect the variability of fire activity.

Survey of feral honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies for Nosema apis in Western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Manning ◽  
Kate Lancaster ◽  
April Rutkay ◽  
Linda Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Nosema Apis ◽  
The South ◽  
South West ◽  
Feral Populations ◽  
Significant Difference

The parasite, Nosema apis, was found to be widespread among feral populations of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the south-west of Western Australia. The location, month of collection and whether the feral colony was enclosed in an object or exposed to the environment, all affected the presence and severity of infection. There was no significant difference in the probability of infection between managed and feral bees. However, when infected by N. apis, managed bees appeared to have a greater severity of the infection.

scholarly journals Our New Cathedrals: Spirituality and Old-Growth Forests in Western Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Worth
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
The Past ◽  
South West ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Heated Debate ◽  
Policy Proposals

Over the past 30 years in Western Australia (WA), there has been heated debate about the future use of the remaining karri and jarrah forests in the south-west of the State. This debate revolves around policy proposals from two social movements: one wants to preserve as much of the remaining old-growth forests as possible, and an opposing movement supports a continued

Predicting lightning activity in Greece with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model

2015 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore M. Giannaros ◽  
Vassiliki Kotroni ◽  
Konstantinos Lagouvardos
Keyword(s):  
Wrf Model ◽  
Lightning Activity ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Weather Research

Hochaufgelöste Simulation von meteorologischen Feldern in urbanen Räumen mit dem Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Modell

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas N. Pilz ◽  
Sanam N. Vardag ◽  
Joachim Fallmann ◽  
André Butz
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Gas Monitoring ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
European Centre ◽  
Medium Range ◽  
Erste Ergebnisse ◽  
Weather Research

<p><span>Städte und Kommunen sind für mehr als 70% </span><span>der globalen, fossilen CO2-Emissionen</span><span> verantwortlich, sodass hier ein enormes Mitigationspotential besteht. Informationen über (inner-)städtische CO2-Emissionen stehen allerdings oft nicht </span><span>in hoher zeitlicher und räumlicher Auflösung</span><span> zur Verfügung und sind </span><span>meist</span><span> mit großen Unsicherheiten behaftet. Diese Umstände erschweren eine zielgerichtete und effiziente Mitigation im urbanen Raum. </span><span>Städtische Messnetzwerke können als unabhängige Informationsquelle einen Beitrag leisten, um CO2-Emissionen in Städten zu quantifizieren und Mitigation zu verifizieren</span><span>. </span><span>Verschiedene denkbare Beobachtungsstrategien sollten</span><span> im Vorfeld abgewägt werden, um urbane Emissionen bestmöglich, d.h. mit der erforderlichen Genauigkeit und </span><span>Kosteneffizienz</span><span> zu quantifizieren. So können Messnetzwerke die Basis für zielgerichtete und kosteneffiziente Mitigation legen.</span></p><p><span>Im Rahmen des Verbundvorhabens „Integrated Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System for Germany“ (ITMS) werden wir verschiedene Beobachtungsstrategien für urbane Räume entwerfen und mit Hilfe von Modellsimulation evaluieren und abwägen. Notwendige Voraussetzung für </span><span>die Evaluation der Strategien</span><span> ist eine akkurate Repräsentation des atmosphärischen Transports im Modell.</span></p><p><span>Diese Studie zeigt</span><span> erste Ergebnisse der hochauflösenden (1kmx1km) meteorologischen Simulationen für den Rhein-Neckar-Raum mit dem WRF Modell. </span><span>Die in WRF simulierten meteorologischen Größen werden für verschiedene Modellkonfigurationen mit </span><span>re-analysierten Daten des European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) und ausgewählten Messstationen verglichen. Damit evaluieren wir </span><span>den Einfluss unterschiedlicher Nudging-Strategien, Parametrisierungen physikalischer Prozesse und urbaner Interaktionen</span><span> auf </span><span>die Modellperformance</span> <span>von</span><span> Lufttemperatur, Windrichtung, Windgeschwindigkeit und Grenzschichthöhe. Durch diese Analysen gewährleisten wir, dass die Simulation der Beobachtungsstrategien auf robuste</span><span>m</span><span> und realistische</span><span>m</span><span> atmosphärischen Transport basieren und schlussendlich repräsentative Empfehlungen für den Aufbau von Messnetzwerken liefern können. </span></p>

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