An iterative initialization scheme for mesoscale studies

Abstract

An iterative technique to produce an initial set of consistent meteorological variables on a mesoscale basis is constructed. The development follows closely the earlier pioneering study of Miyakoda & Moyer (1968) who examined the feasibility of such a technique for synoptic scale initialization utilizing the linearized barotropic equations. The proposed scheme, on the other hand, employs the primitive equations of motion and emphasizes the three-dimensional structure. Another difference is the employment of a staggered grid which greatly facilitated the finite difference forms of the Laplacians and minimized some of the problems encountered in the earlier work. The present goal is to produce consistent sets of u, v, ω, ɸ, and theta-fields for subsequent mesoscale diagnosis. The structure of the various mesosystems, the horizontal and vertical subsynoptic circulations are studied. The immediate emphasis is not, however, on the examination of the initialized fields for possible use in prediction.