Evaluation of Topographic Effect Parameterizations in Weather Research and Forecasting Model over Complex Mountainous Terrain in Wildfire-Prone Regions

• DOI: 10.3390/fire8050196
• Publication Date: 2025-05-14T12:44:58Z
• Authors: Yonghan Jo; Seunghee Kim; Yungon Lee; Changki Kim; Jinkyu Hong; Junhong Lee; Keunchang Jang

Recent trends of intense forest fires in the Korean Peninsula have increased concerns about more extreme burning future under a warming climate. Accurate and reliable fire weather information has become critical to reduce risk forest-related disasters over complex terrain. In this study, two parameterizations reflecting topographic effects were implemented Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model. The model performance was evaluated mountainous region Gangwon-do, South Korea’s most significant area. simulation results wildfire case 2019 show that subgrid-scale orographic parameterization considerably improves regarding wind speed, with lower root mean square error (RMSE) bias by 53% 57%, respectively. Another parameterization, slope shading, effectively reflected sunrise sunset effects. second parametrization produced little effect on daily averages meteorological elements. However, thermodynamic components such as temperature heat flux realistic values during or when solar altitude angle is low. imply applying required numerical simulations, especially for hazardous conditions terrain regions.