[Wrf-users] Questions about WRF output fields

[Eric Altshuler]

Hello,

I have questions about a few WRF output variables. I am running WRF-ARW version 3.0.1.1.

1. What is the difference between SMOIS and SH2O? I noticed some significant differences between these two fields over the Tibetan Plateau. My intuition says that SMOIS includes frozen soil moisture while SH2O is only the liquid soil moisture. Is this correct?

2. What is the difference between albedo (ALBEDO) and background albedo (ALBBCK)? Again, I found large differences between these fields over the Tibetan Plateau. Which one of these fields represents the actual surface albedo?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Best regards,

Eric L. Altshuler
Assistant Research Scientist
Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies
4041 Powder Mill Road, Suite 302
Calverton, MD 20705-3106
USA

E-mail: ela at cola.iges.org
Phone: (301) 902-1257
Fax: (301) 595-9793