Starting with WRF v4.6, support for distributed urban parameters has been integrated into the Single-Layer Urban Canopy Model (SLUCM). This update allows modelers to incorporate spatially heterogeneous urban canopy characteristics into numerical weather simulations.

Key Features & Parameters

The distributed urban parameters available in this release include:

• Aerodynamic Roughness Parameters: Roughness length for momentum and heat, relying on bulk parameterizations of canopy transfer coefficients.
• Sky-View Factor (SVF): Spatially varying sky view factors for urban canopy geometry calculations.
• Anthropogenic Heat Emissions (AHE): Distributed diurnal and spatial heat flux inputs.

Note: Users can also override default static datasets with custom, higher-resolution localized data.

Documentation & Data Downloads

The execution instructions and distributed static datasets were prepared by Dr. Do Ngoc Khanh as part of his doctoral dissertation:

Theoretical Background

The parameterization scheme for momentum and heat roughness lengths is based on the following foundational studies:

• Kanda, M., et al. (2013). A New Aerodynamic Parameterization for Real Urban Surfaces. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 148(2), 357–377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-013-9818-x
• Kawai, T., et al. (2009). Evaluation of the Simple Urban Energy Balance Model Using Selected Data from 1-Yr Flux Observations at Two Cities. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 48(4), 693–715. https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JAMC1891.1

Related Studies & Applications

Development and evaluation of high-resolution urban surface parameters within WRF build upon several key publications:

• Khanh, D. N., et al. (2023). Impact of Urbanization on Exposure to Extreme Warming in Megacities. Heliyon, 9(4), e15511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15511
• Darmanto, N. S., et al. (2019). Future Urban Climate Projection in a Tropical Megacity Based on Global Climate Change and Local Urbanization Scenarios. Urban Climate, 29, 100482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2019.100482
• Varquez, A. C. G., et al. (2018). Numerical Investigation of Anthropogenic Heat Emission Impacts on Large Asian Cities. Journal of JSCE (B1), 74(5), I_1177–I_1182. https://doi.org/10.2208/jscejhe.74.5_I_1177
• Varquez, A. C. G., et al. (2015). The Effects of Highly Detailed Urban Roughness Parameters on a Sea-Breeze Numerical Simulation. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 154(3), 449–469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-014-9985-4
• Varquez, A. C. G., et al. (2014). WRF Application of High Resolution Urban Surface Parameters on Some Major Cities of Japan. Journal of JSCE (B1), 70(4), I_175–I_180. https://doi.org/10.2208/jscejhe.70.I_175