Satellite-Based Estimation of Roughness Length over Vegetated Surfaces and Its Utilization in WRF Simulations

Based on morphological methods, MODIS satellite remote sensing data were used to establish a dataset of the local roughness length (Z0) vegetation-covered surfaces in Guangdong Province. The Z0 was update mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model order quantitatively evaluate its impact thermodynamic environment surfaces. specific results are as follows: evergreen broad-leaved forests showed largest average values at 1.27 m (spring), 1.15 (summer), 1.03 (autumn), (winter); mixed ranged from 0.90 1.20 m; those for cropland-covered 0.17 0.20 m. individual vegetation coverage types all exhibited relatively high spring low autumn, default corresponding significantly underestimated WRF model. Modifying underlying forests, croplands induced only small changes (<1%) their 2 temperature, relative humidity, skin surface planetary boundary layer height. However, daily wind speed covered by reduced 0.48 m/s, 0.43 0.26 respectively, accounting 12.0%, 11.1%, 6.5%, respectively.