Evaluation of Mesoscale Modelling of a Closed Breeze Cell Against Sodar Data

Simulating a closed breeze cell is a challenging task for mesoscale models, but very important for air quality modelling in coastal areas. The occurrence, the vertical and temporal scales of the phenomenon “closed breeze cell” and the magnitude of wind-speed field depend on the synoptic situation, the difference in surface temperature of sea and soil and from the configuration of the coast. In this study we show results of about 4 years of sodar data analysis at Ahtopol on the Bulgarian Black sea coast. We chose cases when the vertical extend of the local circulation fell within the range of the sodar. We present the results of simulations with Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The model performed with different success from case to case. The simulated closed breeze cells are with smaller vertical extend and lower values for wind speed. There is also a shift of the onset of the sea breeze and the duration of the phenomenon.