A Study of Convection Initiation in a Mesoscale Model Using High-Resolution Land Surface Initial Conditions

A coupled convection-resolving mesoscale atmosphere-land surface model (LSM) is used to investigate land surface-planetary boundary layer (PBL) interactions responsible for the initiation of deep, moist convection over the southern Great Plains of the United States on 19 June 1998. A high-resolution land data assimilation system provides initial conditions to the LSM, facilitating examination of soil moisture effects on forecasts of deep convection.