Mesoscale, Microscale, and Numerical Models: Limitations and Future Evolution

Numerical models have been instrumental in analyzing the wind field of non-synoptic wind storms as it is very difficult to obtain a complete data set from observations alone. Depending on the application, one must decide between mesoscale modeling, microscale modeling, or a combination of the two. Mesoscale modeling considers the full extent of the physics involved in the atmosphere but is limited in the spatiotemporal resolution that can be achieved. On the other hand, microscale modeling can produce a high-fidelity simulation of the wind field, but often lacks in the extent of the physics and physical mechanisms that are simulated. Applications and limitations of these modeling techniques are discussed, as well as the future direction of mesoscale and microscale modeling of non-synoptic wind storms.