Atmospheric Modeling:
            Numerical Weather Prediction
            . George J. Haltiner. Wiley, New York, 1971. xviii, 318 pp., illus. $10.95.

Abstract This paper describes the implementation of a proposal of Boyd for the periodization and relaxation of the fields in a full three-dimensional spectral semi-implicit semi-Lagrangian limited-area model structure of an atmospheric modeling system called HARMONIE that is used for numerical weather prediction and regional climate studies. Some first feasibility tests in an operational numerical weather prediction context are presented. They show that, in terms of standard operational forecast scores, Boyd’s windowing-based method provides comparable performance as the old existing spline-based periodization procedure. However, the real improvements of this method should be expected in specific cases of strong dynamical forcings at the lateral boundaries. An extensive demonstration of the superiority of this windowing-based method is provided in an accompanying paper.

Download Full-text

The Precipitation Structure of the Mediterranean Tropical-Like Cyclone Numa: Analysis of GPM Observations and Numerical Weather Prediction Model Simulations

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs11141690 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (14) ◽

pp. 1690 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anna Cinzia Marra ◽

Stefano Federico ◽

Mario Montopoli ◽

Elenio Avolio ◽

Luca Baldini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Numerical Weather Prediction ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Vertical Wind Shear ◽

Development Stage ◽

Atmospheric Modeling ◽

Precipitation Forecast ◽

Numerical Weather ◽

Precipitation Structure ◽

The Mediterranean

This study shows how satellite-based passive and active microwave (MW) sensors can be used in conjunction with high-resolution Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) simulations to provide insights of the precipitation structure of the tropical-like cyclone (TLC) Numa, which occurred on 15–19 November 2017. The goal of the paper is to characterize and monitor the precipitation at the different stages of its evolution from development to TLC phase, throughout the storm transition over the Mediterranean Sea. Observations by the NASA/JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory (GPM-CO) and by the GPM constellation of MW radiometers are used, in conjunction with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) simulations. The GPM-CO measurements are used to analyze the passive MW radiometric response to the microphysical structure of the storm, while the comparison between successive MW radiometer overpasses shows the evolution of Numa precipitation structure from its early development stage on the Ionian Sea into its TLC phase, as it persists over southern coast of Italy (Apulia region) for several hours. Measurements evidence stronger convective activity at the development phase compared to the TLC phase, when strengthening or weakening phases in the eye development, and the occurrence of warm rain processes in the areas surrounding the eye, are identified. The weak scattering and polarization signal at and above 89 GHz, the lack of scattering signal at 37 GHz, and the absence of electrical activity in correspondence of the rainbands during the TLC phase, indicate weak convection and the presence of supercooled cloud droplets at high levels. RAMS high-resolution simulations support what inferred from the observations, evidencing Numa TLC characteristics (closed circulation around a warm core, low vertical wind shear, intense surface winds, heavy precipitation), persisting for more than 24 h. Moreover, the implementation of DPR 3D reflectivity field in the RAMS data assimilation system shows a small (but non negligible) impact on the precipitation forecast over the sea up to a few hours after the DPR overpass.

Download Full-text