scholarly journals Multiscale Postprocessor for Ensemble Streamflow Prediction for Short to Long Ranges

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babak Alizadeh ◽  
Reza Ahmad Limon ◽  
Dong-Jun Seo ◽  
Haksu Lee ◽  
James Brown

AbstractA novel multiscale postprocessor for ensemble streamflow prediction, MS-EnsPost, is described and comparatively evaluated with the existing postprocessor in the National Weather Service’s Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast Service, EnsPost. MS-EnsPost uses data-driven correction of magnitude-dependent bias in simulated flow, multiscale regression using observed and simulated flows over a range of temporal aggregation scales, and ensemble generation using parsimonious error modeling. For comparative evaluation, 139 basins in eight River Forecast Centers in the United States were used. Streamflow predictability in different hydroclimatological regions is assessed and characterized, and gains by MS-EnsPost over EnsPost are attributed. The ensemble mean and ensemble prediction results indicate that, compared to EnsPost, MS-EnsPost reduces the root-mean-square error and mean continuous ranked probability score of day-1 to day-7 predictions of mean daily flow by 5%–68% and by 2%–62%, respectively. The deterministic and probabilistic results indicate that for most basins the improvement by MS-EnsPost is due to both magnitude-dependent bias correction and full utilization of hydrologic memory through multiscale regression. Comparison of the continuous ranked probability skill score results with hydroclimatic indices indicates that the skill of ensemble streamflow prediction with post processing is modulated largely by the fraction of precipitation as snowfall and, for non-snow-driven basins, mean annual precipitation.

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Wood ◽  
John C. Schaake

Abstract When hydrological models are used for probabilistic streamflow forecasting in the Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) framework, the deterministic components of the approach can lead to errors in the estimation of forecast uncertainty, as represented by the spread of the forecast ensemble. One avenue for correcting the resulting forecast reliability errors is to calibrate the streamflow forecast ensemble to match observed error characteristics. This paper outlines and evaluates a method for forecast calibration as applied to seasonal streamflow prediction. The approach uses the correlation of forecast ensemble means with observations to generate a conditional forecast mean and spread that lie between the climatological mean and spread (when the forecast has no skill) and the raw forecast mean with zero spread (when the forecast is perfect). Retrospective forecasts of summer period runoff in the Feather River basin, California, are used to demonstrate that the approach improves upon the performance of traditional ESP forecasts by reducing errors in forecast mean and improving spread estimates, thereby increasing forecast reliability and skill.


2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1301-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Thirel ◽  
Fabienne Rousset-Regimbeau ◽  
Eric Martin ◽  
Florence Habets

Abstract Ensemble streamflow prediction systems are emerging in the international scientific community in order to better assess hydrologic threats. Two ensemble streamflow prediction systems (ESPSs) were set up at Météo-France using ensemble forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Ensemble Prediction System for the first one, and from the Prévision d’Ensemble Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle (PEARP) ensemble prediction system of Météo-France for the second. This paper presents the evaluation of their capacities to better anticipate severe hydrological events and more generally to estimate the quality of both ESPSs on their globality. The two ensemble predictions were used as input for the same hydrometeorological model. The skills of both ensemble streamflow prediction systems were evaluated over all of France for the precipitation input and streamflow prediction during a 569-day period and for a 2-day short-range scale. The ensemble streamflow prediction system based on the PEARP data was the best for floods and small basins, and the ensemble streamflow prediction system based on the ECMWF data seemed the best adapted for low flows and large basins.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 2023-2039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Harrigan ◽  
Christel Prudhomme ◽  
Simon Parry ◽  
Katie Smith ◽  
Maliko Tanguy

Abstract. Skilful hydrological forecasts at sub-seasonal to seasonal lead times would be extremely beneficial for decision-making in water resources management, hydropower operations, and agriculture, especially during drought conditions. Ensemble streamflow prediction (ESP) is a well-established method for generating an ensemble of streamflow forecasts in the absence of skilful future meteorological predictions, instead using initial hydrologic conditions (IHCs), such as soil moisture, groundwater, and snow, as the source of skill. We benchmark when and where the ESP method is skilful across a diverse sample of 314 catchments in the UK and explore the relationship between catchment storage and ESP skill. The GR4J hydrological model was forced with historic climate sequences to produce a 51-member ensemble of streamflow hindcasts. We evaluated forecast skill seamlessly from lead times of 1 day to 12 months initialized at the first of each month over a 50-year hindcast period from 1965 to 2015. Results showed ESP was skilful against a climatology benchmark forecast in the majority of catchments across all lead times up to a year ahead, but the degree of skill was strongly conditional on lead time, forecast initialization month, and individual catchment location and storage properties. UK-wide mean ESP skill decayed exponentially as a function of lead time with continuous ranked probability skill scores across the year of 0.75, 0.20, and 0.11 for 1-day, 1-month, and 3-month lead times, respectively. However, skill was not uniform across all initialization months. For lead times up to 1 month, ESP skill was higher than average when initialized in summer and lower in winter months, whereas for longer seasonal and annual lead times skill was higher when initialized in autumn and winter months and lowest in spring. ESP was most skilful in the south and east of the UK, where slower responding catchments with higher soil moisture and groundwater storage are mainly located; correlation between catchment base flow index (BFI) and ESP skill was very strong (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient =0.90 at 1-month lead time). This was in contrast to the more highly responsive catchments in the north and west which were generally not skilful at seasonal lead times. Overall, this work provides scientific justification for when and where use of such a relatively simple forecasting approach is appropriate in the UK. This study, furthermore, creates a low cost benchmark against which potential skill improvements from more sophisticated hydro-meteorological ensemble prediction systems can be judged.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urmin Vegad ◽  
Vimal Mishra

<p>Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) is a widely used method in forecasting streamflow, particularly for extremely low or high flows. However, the incorporation of reservoir operations in using ensemble streamflow prediction has not been investigated till yet. We calibrated Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model for daily streamflow for Narmada river basin at four stations (Sandia, Handia, Mandleshwar and Garudeshwar) considering the effect of four reservoirs (Bargi, Tawa, Indira Sagar and Sardar Sarovar). The model is well-calibrated for the selected river basin (R2>0.55) at all locations. Further, routing of streamflow is done considering the reservoir storage dynamics and operating rules. Input data for ensemble prediction is taken from all 16 members of the Extended Range Forecast System (ERFS) developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and implemented by India Meteorological Department (IMD). Post-processing of the results gave us probabilities of uncertainties associated with streamflow prediction using ERFS members. This study provides key information in predictions of streamflow by incorporating the reservoirs based on the ERFS ensemble members, which can be used to effectively mitigate life and property losses associated with extreme flows in rivers.</p>


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Harrigan ◽  
Christel Prudhomme ◽  
Simon Parry ◽  
Katie Smith ◽  
Maliko Tanguy

Abstract. Skilful hydrological forecasts at sub-seasonal to seasonal lead times would be extremely beneficial for decision-making in water resources management, hydropower operations, and agriculture, especially during drought conditions. Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) is a well-established method for generating an ensemble of streamflow forecasts in the absence of skilful future meteorological predictions, instead using Initial Hydrological Conditions (IHCs), such as soil moisture, groundwater, and snow, as the source of skill. We benchmark when and where the ESP method is skilful across a diverse sample of 314 catchments in the UK and explore the relationship between catchment storage and ESP skill. The GR4J hydrological model was forced with historic climate sequences to produce 51-member ensemble of streamflow hindcasts. We evaluated forecast skill seamlessly from lead times of 1-day to 12-months initialised at the first of each month over a 50-year hindcast period from 1965–2015. Results show ESP was skilful against a climatology benchmark forecast in the majority of catchments across all lead times up to a year ahead, but the degree of skill was strongly conditional on lead time, forecast initialisation month, and individual catchment location and storage properties. UK-wide mean ESP skill decays exponentially as a function of lead time with mean squared error skill scores across the year of 0.839, 0.303, and 0.179 for 1-day, 1-month, and 3-month lead times, respectively. However, skill was not uniform across all initialisation months. For lead times up to 1-month, ESP skill was higher than average when initialised in summer and lower in winter, whereas for longer seasonal and annual lead times skill was highest when initialised in autumn and winter months and lowest in April. ESP is most skilful in the south and east of the UK, where slower responding catchments with higher soil moisture and groundwater storage are mainly located; correlation between catchment Baseflow Index (BFI) and ESP skill was very strong (ρ = 0.896 at 1-month lead time). This is in contrast to the more highly responsive catchments in the north and west which are generally not skilful at seasonal lead times. Overall, this work provides a scientifically defensible justification for when and where use of such a relatively simple forecasting approach is appropriate in the UK and creates a low cost benchmark against which potential skill improvements from more sophisticated hydro-meteorological ensemble prediction systems can be judged.


2021 ◽  
Vol 893 (1) ◽  
pp. 012047
Author(s):  
R Rahmat ◽  
A M Setiawan ◽  
Supari

Abstract Indonesian climate is strongly affected by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as one of climate-driven factor. ENSO prediction during the upcoming months or year is crucial for the government in order to design the further strategic policy. Besides producing its own ENSO prediction, BMKG also regularly releases the status and ENSO prediction collected from other climate centers, such as Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, the skill of these products is not well known yet. The aim of this study is to conduct a simple assessment on the skill of JMA Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) and NOAA Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) ENSO prediction using World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Standard Verification System for Long Range Forecast (SVS-LRF) method. Both ENSO prediction results also compared each other using Student's t-test. The ENSO predictions data were obtained from the ENSO JMA and ENSO NCEP forecast archive files, while observed Nino 3.4 were calculated from Centennial in situ Observation-Based Estimates (COBE) Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly (SSTA). Both ENSO prediction issued by JMA and NCEP has a good skill on 1 to 3 months lead time, indicated by high correlation coefficient and positive value of Mean Square Skill Score (MSSS). However, the skill of both skills significantly reduced for May-August target month. Further careful interpretation is needed for ENSO prediction issued on this mentioned period.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calum Baugh ◽  
Patricia de Rosnay ◽  
Heather Lawrence ◽  
Toni Jurlina ◽  
Matthias Drusch ◽  
...  

In this study the impacts of Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) soil moisture data assimilation upon the streamflow prediction of the operational Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS) were investigated. Two GloFAS experiments were performed, one which used hydro-meteorological forcings produced with the assimilation of the SMOS data, the other using forcings which excluded the assimilation of the SMOS data. Both sets of experiment results were verified against streamflow observations in the United States and Australia. Skill scores were computed for each experiment against the observation datasets, the differences in the skill scores were used to identify where GloFAS skill may be affected by the assimilation of SMOS soil moisture data. In addition, a global assessment was made of the impact upon the 5th and 95th GloFAS flow percentiles to see how SMOS data assimilation affected low and high flows respectively. Results against in-situ observations found that GloFAS skill score was only affected by a small amount. At a global scale, the results showed a large impact on high flows in areas such as the Hudson Bay, central United States, the Sahel and Australia. There was no clear spatial trend to these differences as opposing signs occurred within close proximity to each other. Investigating the differences between the simulations at individual gauging stations showed that they often only occurred during a single flood event; for the remainder of the simulation period the experiments were almost identical. This suggests that SMOS data assimilation may affect the generation of surface runoff during high flow events, but may have less impact on baseflow generation during the remainder of the hydrograph. To further understand this, future work could assess the impact of SMOS data assimilation upon specific hydrological components such as surface and subsurface runoff.


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