Comparison of WRF Model Physics Parameterizations over the MENA-CORDEX Domain

Abstract

We\rinvestigated the performance of 12 different physics configurations of the\rclimate version of the Weather, Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model over the\rMiddle East and North Africa (MENA) domain. Possible combinations among two\rPlanetary Boundary Layer (PBL), three Cumulus (CUM) and two Microphysics (MIC)\rschemes were tested. The 2-year simulations (December 1988-November 1990) have\rbeen compared with gridded observational data and station measurements for\rseveral variables, including total precipitation and maximum and minimum 2-meter\rair temperature. An objective ranking method of the 12 different simulations\rand the selection procedure of the best performing configuration for the MENA\rdomain are based on several statistical metrics and carried out for relevant\rsub-domains and individual stations. The setup for cloud microphysics is found\rto have the strongest impact on temperature biases while precipitation is most\rsensitive to the cumulus parameterization scheme and mainly in the tropics.