Shah et al. (2025) Western Disturbances: A Comprehensive Review of Modeling Approaches and Research Directions

Identification

• Journal: Lecture notes in networks and systems
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-15
• Authors: Khushi Shah, Shivangi Surati, Bipasha Paul Shukla
• DOI: 10.1007/978-981-96-8796-1_4

Research Groups

• Dhirubhai Ambani University, Gandhinagar, India
• Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, India
• Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad, India

Short Summary

This paper provides a comprehensive review of Western Disturbances (WDs), synthesizing current understanding of their dynamics and impacts, and critically evaluating existing modeling approaches from mesoscale to global scales. It highlights that while higher resolution models improve WD representation, they face biases and subgrid-scale challenges, with satellite data integration showing promise for enhanced accuracy.

Objective

• To synthesize current understanding of Western Disturbances (WDs) regarding their dynamics, impacts, lifetimes, and general meteorological significance.
• To critically evaluate the modeling approaches employed to date for WDs, ranging from mesoscale to global climate models and data assimilation techniques.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional to global, covering the Mediterranean region eastward across central Asia to South Asia.
• Temporal Scale: Historical and ongoing, focusing on the winter season when Western Disturbances are most critical.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Mesoscale models, global climate models, data assimilation techniques.
• Data sources: Satellite observations (mentioned as promising for integration), and implicitly, various observational and reanalysis datasets used in the reviewed modeling studies.

Main Results

• Higher resolution models enhance the representation of Western Disturbance tracks and precipitation patterns but exhibit biases in parameterization and challenges in capturing subgrid-scale processes.
• Integration of satellite data has shown promise for improving simulation accuracy.
• Key research directions identified include enhancing cloud microphysics schemes, land-atmosphere interaction parameterizations, improving data assimilation techniques, and deploying artificial intelligence and machine learning for better prediction accuracy.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on Western Disturbances, including their dynamics, impacts, and meteorological significance.
• Offers a critical evaluation of the diverse modeling approaches used for WDs, from mesoscale to global climate models.
• Identifies specific areas for future research and development in WD modeling, aiming to reduce uncertainties and improve preparedness for associated weather hazards.

Funding

• Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Shah2025Western,
  author = {Shah, Khushi and Surati, Shivangi and Shukla, Bipasha Paul},
  title = {Western Disturbances: A Comprehensive Review of Modeling Approaches and Research Directions},
  journal = {Lecture notes in networks and systems},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1007/978-981-96-8796-1_4},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-8796-1_4}
}