Articles | Volume 19, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-5139-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-5139-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
A local terrain smoothing approach for stabilizing microscale and high-resolution mesoscale simulations: a case study using FastEddy® (v3.0) and WRF (v4.6.0)
Physics of the Earth, Regional Campus of International Excellence (CEIR) “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
Domingo Muñoz-Esparza
Research Applications Laboratory, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USA
Physics of the Earth, Regional Campus of International Excellence (CEIR) “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Short summary
High-resolution atmospheric simulations can become numerically unstable over steep terrain. Traditional terrain smoothing approaches modify the domain globally, reducing terrain detail. We developed a local smoothing method that improves simulation stability while only modifying steep-slope points, helping to retain the benefits of high-resolution modeling. Tested in a mesoscale and a microscale atmospheric model, it is computationally efficient, easy to implement, and adaptable to other models.
High-resolution atmospheric simulations can become numerically unstable over steep terrain....