Interaction of the Sea Breeze with the Urban Area of Rome: WRF Mesoscale and WRF Large-Eddy Simulations Compared to Ground-Based Observations

Abstract The Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model is used to simulate atmospheric circulation during the summer season in a coastal region of central Italy, including city Rome. time series surface air temperature, wind speed, direction are compared with situ observations urban Rome its rural surroundings. Moreover, vertical profiles sodar measurements. To improve WRF model’s ability reproduce local circulation, onset propagation sea breeze, several simulations carried out modifying land use thermal physical properties surfaces. Based on results correlation coefficient RMSE, heat capacity albedo parameters mostly influencing daily temperature cycle. Particularly, area reproduced more realistically when increased. Hence, best initialize large-eddy simulation at high spatial resolution analyze interaction between breeze island investigate front orography roughness. As confirmed by collected weather stations surroundings Rome, front, entering city, splits into three branches: (i) west component western flank closer sea; (ii) north-west northern, inland side, (iii) south-west south city.