Modelling and observing urban climate in the Netherlands

The main aims of the present study are: (1) to evaluate the performance of two well-known mesoscale NWP (numerical weather prediction) models coupled to a UCM (Urban Canopy Models), and (2) to develop a proper measurement strategy for obtaining meteorological data that can be used in model evaluation studies. We choose the mesoscale models WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting Model) and RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modeling System), respectively, because the partners in the present project have a large expertise with respect to these models. In addition WRF and RAMS have been successfully used in the meteorology and climate research communities for various purposes, including weather prediction and land-atmosphere interaction research. Recently, state-of-the-art UCM's were embedded within the land surface scheme of the respective models, in order to better represent the exchange of heat, momentum, and water vapour in the urban environment. Key questions addressed here are: What is the general model performance with respect to the urban environment?; How can useful and observational data be obtained that allow sensible validation and further parameterization of the models?; and Can the models be easily modified to simulate the urban climate under Dutch climatic conditions, urban configuration and morphology? Chapter 2 reviews the available Urban Canopy Models; we discuss their theoretical basis, the different representations of the urban environment, the required input and the output. Much of the information was obtained from the Urban Surface Energy Balance: Land Surface Scheme Comparison project (PILPS URBAN, PILPS stands for Project for Inter-comparison of Land-Surface Parameterization Schemes). This project started in March 2008 and was coordinated by the Department of Geography, King's College London. In order to test the performance of our models we participated in this project. Chapter 3 discusses the main results of the first phase of PILPS URBAN. A first impression of the model performance under Dutch climatic conditions is obtained from a number of online simulations with the non-calibrated versions of NSLUCM-WRF (NSLUCM stands for NOAH land surface model/Single-layer Urban Canopy model) and TEB-RAMS (Town Energy Balance - Regional Atmospheric Modeling System). These simulations have been carried out for the city of Rotterdam and their results are discussed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 gives an inventory of the available datasets for model validation and parameterization. Also, the possibility to use data from hobby meteorologists will be discussed. Chapter 6 deals with the 'measuring strategy' that will be illustrated by the measurements carried out as part of the Hotspot Heat Stress Rotterdam project. Finally, in chapter 7, conclusions and recommendations are presented.