Tiny rain makers: How aerosols shape extreme rainfall simulation accuracy

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131806
• Publication Date: 2024-08-11T13:56:53Z
• Authors: Ying Liu; Hai Liu; Lu Zhuo; Dawei Han
• Keywords: HYSPLIT; Orography

Given the rapid spatiotemporal variability of aerosols and their complex impacts on Earth system, investigating role in modelling extreme weather events, particularly various rainfalls, remains limited. This study explored rainfall simulation sensitivity to aerosol properties, transport seasonality over UK Ireland during four seasons 2020 by Weather Research Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model. Two sets high-resolution simulations, one including direct indirect effects other without any effects, were conducted investigate improvements due inputs. Meteorological results verified using ground satellite observations examine reliability simulations. The 12 events months classified backward trajectories from Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, accuracies quantified through six metrics overall score. By comprehensive analyses performances under different conditions, it is found that performs better simulating driven sea salt (SSA) compared those promoted anthropogenic aerosols. Air masses transported Arctic North Atlantic Ocean also help achieve higher accuracy than European air masses. Rainfall simulations for winter autumn outperform spring summer events. When considering almost half showed improved performance, while an equal number experienced a decrease small proportion remained unchanged. most remarkable are observed concentrations SSA participation aerosols, only all experience performance reductions. led significant increases monthly accompanied great reductions Cl larger particle size NO3 smaller