The Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) ARM Symbiotic Simulation and Observation (LASSO) datastream includes data bundles for shallow convection days at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) atmospheric observatory for the period 2015–2019.
Bundles for 2015 and 2016 were produced as part of the LASSO pilot phase and are preliminary versions of the final product. Collectively, the Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 bundles serve to demonstrate the overall LASSO concept to researchers, provide a means for facilitating community discussion and feedback, and make available initial sets of simulations and accompanying observations for research purposes. From 2017 onward, a standardized model configuration and data bundle format has been used. The history of releases and differences between them can be found in the LASSO change log within the LASSO technical document for this scenario.
Each release is a collection of data files, which entails a collection of what ARM calls “data bundles.” The bundles consist of:
- LES input and outputs
- ARM observations co-registered on the model grid
- model diagnostics and skill scores
- data plots of various fields.
Simulations from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are available for each case day that have been driven using eight forcing options. This selection of forcings forms an ensemble that increases the likelihood of obtaining realistic LES simulations.
More complete details about the LES configuration and data included in the bundles are available in the LASSO technical document.
The simulations within LASSO represent the typical behavior expected from LES using best-practice configurations and are valid for use in various research applications. We recommend users contact the LASSO team to ensure the details of the simulations are understood and that the simulations are used appropriately for a given application.
