Zerafa, D. (2014). B.Sc. (Hons) Dissertation. A Sensitivity Study of the WRF model to progressive input of SSTs.

Supervisor: Dr N. Aquilina

Abstract

Improved prediction of the boundary-layer wind flow has recently been a target of exhaustive research in both the academic and industrial sectors. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), simulations were carried out over the Mediterranean Sea focusing on the Maltese islands to compare wind flows with previous studies. These were set with an improved WRF-LES (large eddy simulation) configuration. This project evaluates the benefit of updating the input of the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the model at different stages of the simulation. From initial tests, the progressive SST input made a difference in the wind flow behaviour. Validation of the results was done with actual datasets obtained from station observations and/or reanalysis data. Overall, an improvement was registered in the output data for the wind magnitude by the progressive input of SSTs.