Sensitivity Analysis of WRF Model for Wind Modelling Over a Complex Topography Under Extreme Weather Conditions

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modelling system is used to generate high resolution wind speed maps. In order to optimise the WRF model, a sensitivity test is performed to determine the best combinations of physics to be used for simulating the climate topology over the Island of Mauritius using WRF. More specifically, this paper gives the details of the sensitivity tests and analyses that have been conducted on the Island of Mauritius. The model is tested for clear days as well as extreme weather conditions such as cyclone and anticyclone. The results of the sensitivity test are presented. The best combinations of physics options were found to be the microphysics option WSM5, Planetary Boundary Layer option MYJ and the Cumulus scheme KF.