A multi‐instrument and multi‐model assessment of atmospheric moisture variability over the western Mediterranean during HyMeX

摘要: The Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean eXperiment (HyMeX) was held fall 2012 during which part of observational effort has been established on Menorca Island to characterize upwind marine low-level flow. ground-based Water vapour Raman Lidar (WALI), airborne water lidar LEANDRE 2 and boundary layer pressurized balloons were implemented first Special Observing Period contributed variability vicinity Balearic Islands, together with existing network Global Positioning System receivers. Furthermore, analyses from regional global numerical weather prediction (NWP) models (AROME-WMED, ECMWF/IFS NWP system Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model) also available over large domains encompassing or entire Western basin. We assess consistency mixing ratio (WVMR) profiles integrated contents (IWVC) derived different data sets by comparing them a common reference, WALI. use indicators such as root mean square errors, biases correlations. Comparison between WVMR lidars (ground-based balloons) leads error lower than 1.6 g kg−1 (1.3 kg−1) when closest possible air masses are sampled. observed good agreement vertical WALI correlations higher 0.7 errors kg−1. Regarding IWVCs, exhibit less kg m−2, 2.3 0.86 compared Finally, AROME-WMED 48-h forecasts composited eleven periods. quality forecast does not visibly degrade within period initial analyses.