Abstract: A Central Asian vortex rainstorm episode was simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting model based on reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Hourly precipitation data from regional automatic weather stations, CloudSat satellite 2B-CWC-RO data, and FY-2D/E satellite TBB（Black Body Temperature）data were used to evaluate the applicability of the Lin, WSM 6, Thompson, and WDM 6 schemes in forecasting precipitation in Xinjiang. The results were as follows: the Thompson scheme was superior in the simulation of light rain（0.1-5.0 mm）and moderate rain（5.1-10.0 mm）. The distribution of the cloud top bright temperature simulated using the four schemes was similar to, though slightly lower than, that measured by FY-2E satellite observation. According to the vertical distribution of the average ice content measured by CloudSat observation, the Thompson scheme was also superior in the numerical simulation of ice content and height in the high-value region; the Lin scheme performed worst in these areas. According to the vertical distribution of average ice content in a 3 km area, the cloud ice content simulated with the Thompson scheme was the highest, followed by the WSM 6 and WDM 6 schemes, and finally the Lin scheme. The ice content-height profile of the WSM 6 and WDM 6 schemes were almost coincident.

Key words: WRF, cloud microphysical parameter, CloudSat, FY-2, Central-Asia vortex, rainstorm