Temperature simulation by numerical modeling and feedback of geostatic data and horizontal domain resolution

The accuracy of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) can be affected by multiple factors, including domain resolution, geostatic data, and model configuration. This study examined the sensitivity of simulated seasonal temperature to different geostatic data, horizontal domain resolutions, and configurations in Northeast Iran. During the investigation, the WRF model utilized Asymmetric Convective Model version 2 (ACM2) planetary boundary layer, WRF-single-moment-microphysics classes 6 (WSM6) Microphysic, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) Long-wave/short-wave radiation parameterization schemes, and Climate Forecast System version2 (CFSV2) initial and boundary conditions from Nov 2019 to Feb 2020. The default (States Geological Survey (USGS)/ Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)) and high-resolution (ASTER/Copernicus) geostatic data and inner domain resolutions 3 and 6 km were set for model simulation. The results revealed that following the physical configuration, the model simulation’s highest sensitivity was associated with the domain resolution and geostatic data. Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) had approximately similar results in the 6 km domain for both geostatic data, but the Mean Bias (MB) showed a cold Bias. The MB results were warmer when the horizontal resolution increased from 6 to 3 km. To obtain reliable temperature simulation, WRF was more sensitive to horizontal domain resolution than geostatic data. However, the accuracy of geostatic data affected the distribution of temperature patterns. A greater error appeared in the lower horizontal domain resolution (6 km) and low-resolution geostatic data (default), especially in complex terrains.