Effect of microphysical schemes on simulation of a rainfall process in the central parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

This study attempts to investigate the numerical simulations of a rainfall processes over the central region of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) that occurred on 11–12 August 2009 using Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model. Three simulations are preformed to study the WRF model sensitivity to cloud microphysics parameterization schemes (WDM6, Thompson, SBU-YLIN) on the rainfall prediction. The detailed comparison was made between the 45 h spatial distribution of model rainfall and observations obtained from rainfall gauges. Model results are compared in terms of probability of detection, false alarm ratio, and BIAS from 29 weather stations. Results show that the microphysics schemes significantly influenced the rainfall simulation due to differences in mixing ratios of different hydrometeors. The SBU-YLIN scheme captured the spatial distribution and cumulative amounts of rainfall in close agreement with the observations. The Thompson and WDM6 schemes predicted the rainfall event with lower intensity. Results suggest that the SBU-YLIN scheme captured the time evolution of different hydrometeors that led to produce the observed rainfall distribution spatially and temporally. The results of this study show the importance of the microphysics schemes in simulating rainfall processes, as well as the high potential of using WRF for future forecasts, especially for heavy rainfall events over the DPRK.