Evaluation of WRF Planetary Boundary Layer Parameterization Schemes for Dry Season Conditions over Complex Terrain in the Liangshan Prefecture, Southwestern China

The planetary boundary layer (PBL) exerts strong control on heat, moisture, and momentum exchange, yet its representation over the steep mountains and deep valleys of Liangshan remains poorly understood. This study evaluates six Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) PBL schemes (ACM2, BL, MYJ, MYNN2.5, QNSE, and YSU) using multi-source observations from radiosondes, surface stations, and wind profiling radar during clear-sky dry-season cases in spring and winter. The schemes exhibit substantial differences in governing turbulent mixing and stratification. For the specific cases studied, QNSE best reproduces 2 m temperature in both seasons by realistically capturing nocturnal stability and large diurnal ranges, while non-local schemes overestimate nighttime temperatures due to excessive mixing. MYNN2.5 performs robustly for boundary layer growth in spring, and BL aligns most closely with radar-derived PBL height (PBLH). Vertical profile comparisons show that QNSE and MYJ better represent the lower–middle level thermodynamic structure, whereas all schemes underestimate extreme near-surface winds, reflecting unresolved terrain-induced variability. PBLH simulations reproduce diurnal cycles but differ in amplitude, with QNSE occasionally producing unrealistic spikes. Overall, no scheme performs optimally for all variables. However, QNSE and MYNN2.5 show the most balanced performance across seasons. These findings provide guidance for selecting PBL schemes for high-resolution modeling and fire–weather applications over complex terrain.