Trapped Lee Waves Observed during PYREX by Constant Volume Balloons: Comparison with Meso-NH Simulations

Abstract

The main objective of the present paper is the use of a constant volume balloon (CVB) as a tool to (i) study trapped lee waves and (ii) assess the forecasting capability of a nonhydrostatic numerical model. Then, CVB data obtained during the Pyrénées Experiment (PYREX) are compared with nonhydrostatic two-dimensional trapped lee waves simulated by the Meso-NH model. This model is a community research model based on the Lipps?Hemler form of the anelastic system, which has been recently developed by the CNRM of Météo-France and the Laboratoire d?Aérologie of Université Paul Sabatier in France. To analyze how the CVB responds to lee waves, a simple CVB model is first applied to academic atmospheric stationary wave flows, analogous to those encountered during PYREX. This model takes into account the vertical velocity of the surrounding air, geometrical parameters of the balloon, and the atmospheric heating processes. Results show that the CVB reacts well to the atmospheric wave period, with a phase delay of only a few minutes. Three CVB trajectories obtained during the third Intensive Observation Period of PYREX are then computed within Meso-NH 2D simulations from the balloon?s starting point, using the CVB model. The simulated quantities are compared to the experimental CVB data, focusing especially on the lee-wave vertical movements. The simulated lee-wave vertical velocities and amplitude are found to be in good agreement with the observations, as shown by the statistical analysis. The computed CVB heights deviate by less than 13% from the altitude of the measured trajectories. This comparison of the model output to the CVB experimental data demonstrates the good performance of the Meso-NH model in the prediction of the vertical excursions of the lee waves.