Question about surface and flux variables in UPP V3

[jwraby]

I would like to obtain some information about the methodology used in UPP Version 3 to post-process the following variables:
INST SFC SENHEAT FX
INST SFC LATHEAT FX
INST GROUND HEAT FLX
SFC MIDDAY ALBEDO
FRICTION VELOCITY
ROUGHNESS LENGTH
SFC (SKIN) TEMPRATUR

I am planning on using the post-processed WRF-LES output for these variables and measurements of the same variables collected from a dense array of towers to do an assessment. The names of these variables come from the UPP control file "wrf_cntrl.parm". If anyone could provide this information or contact info for someone who can, I would appreciate this. I want to gain some understanding about how these fields are produced.

I also have a more specific question about the line pair in the control file for ROUGHNESS LENGTH which has a SCAL value of 2.7. I question this value since all the other variables have values like 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0. Just curious to learn if this is a typo error or if there was a specific reason for this value.

Thank you.

John Raby

[gspetro-NOAA]

Hi John,

@WenMeng-NOAA is most likely to know whom you could contact. However, UPP v3 is so old that I'm not sure how many people are still around who remember these details. :-/ Maybe Wen can suggest someone, but this really isn't something we're supporting anymore, unfortunately.

Best,
Gillian Petro

[WenMeng-NOAA]

@gspetro-NOAA I have no candidate who can answer these UPP v3 questions, which used to be supported by the DTC team.

[jwraby]

Gillian and Wen - Thank you for for responding to my question. Understand that this version of UPP is very old and is not supported, I have posted my question to the WRF-MPAS-A forum to see if someone in that community can recall a possible contact who might know the answers.
Respectfully,
John Raby

[gspetro-NOAA]

Hi @jwraby ,

Another option Wen thought of was that you could get in touch with the model developers, since the UPP pulls its variables directly from the Weather Model. It's still a long shot, since I know you work with WRF, but some of them may have worked with or developed WRF in the past, and there are plenty of similarities. I imagine that is at least partially why you were looking for emails for Russ Treadon and Michael Baldwin, but if Russ is unable to help or recommend someone who can, you could potentially inquire of other developers.

Best,
Gillian

[jwraby]

Hi Gillian -

Thanks for reaching out on another option to get the information. Wen provided an email address for Russ Treadon. I contacted Russ and he provided me with his recollection of his work on development of the post-processing code for the predecessor software to the UPP. The information learned from Russ provided the answers I needed.

Take care.

John