scholarly journals Inclusion of Linearized Moist Physics in NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation Tools

2014 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 414-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Holdaway ◽  
Ronald Errico ◽  
Ronald Gelaro ◽  
Jong G. Kim

Abstract Inclusion of moist physics in the linearized version of a weather forecast model is beneficial in terms of variational data assimilation. Further, it improves the capability of important tools, such as adjoint-based observation impacts and sensitivity studies. A linearized version of the relaxed Arakawa–Schubert (RAS) convection scheme has been developed and tested in NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System data assimilation tools. A previous study of the RAS scheme showed it to exhibit reasonable linearity and stability. This motivates the development of a linearization of a near-exact version of the RAS scheme. Linearized large-scale condensation is included through simple conversion of supersaturation into precipitation. The linearization of moist physics is validated against the full nonlinear model for 6- and 24-h intervals, relevant to variational data assimilation and observation impacts, respectively. For a small number of profiles, sudden large growth in the perturbation trajectory is encountered. Efficient filtering of these profiles is achieved by diagnosis of steep gradients in a reduced version of the operator of the tangent linear model. With filtering turned on, the inclusion of linearized moist physics increases the correlation between the nonlinear perturbation trajectory and the linear approximation of the perturbation trajectory. A month-long observation impact experiment is performed and the effect of including moist physics on the impacts is discussed. Impacts from moist-sensitive instruments and channels are increased. The effect of including moist physics is examined for adjoint sensitivity studies. A case study examining an intensifying Northern Hemisphere Atlantic storm is presented. The results show a significant sensitivity with respect to moisture.

2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 2355-2364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Laroche ◽  
Pierre Gauthier ◽  
Monique Tanguay ◽  
Simon Pellerin ◽  
Josée Morneau

Abstract A four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR) scheme has recently been implemented in the medium-range weather forecast system of the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC). The new scheme is now composed of several additional and improved features as compared with the three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR): the first guess at the appropriate time from the full-resolution model trajectory is used to calculate the misfit to the observations; the tangent linear of the forecast model and its adjoint are employed to propagate the analysis increment and the gradient of the cost function over the 6-h assimilation window; a comprehensive set of simplified physical parameterizations is used during the final minimization process; and the number of frequently reported data, in particular satellite data, has substantially increased. The impact of these 4DVAR components on the forecast skill is reported in this article. This is achieved by comparing data assimilation configurations that range in complexity from the former 3DVAR with the implemented 4DVAR over a 1-month period. It is shown that the implementation of the tangent-linear model and its adjoint as well as the increased number of observations are the two features of the new 4DVAR that contribute the most to the forecast improvement. All the other components provide marginal though positive impact. 4DVAR does not improve the medium-range forecast of tropical storms in general and tends to amplify the existing, too early extratropical transition often observed in the MSC global forecast system with 3DVAR. It is shown that this recurrent problem is, however, more sensitive to the forecast model than the data assimilation scheme employed in this system. Finally, the impact of using a shorter cutoff time for the reception of observations, as the one used in the operational context for the 0000 and 1200 UTC forecasts, is more detrimental with 4DVAR. This result indicates that 4DVAR is more sensitive to observations at the end of the assimilation window than 3DVAR.


2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (10) ◽  
pp. 4198-4219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Holdaway ◽  
Ronald Errico ◽  
Ronald Gelaro ◽  
Jong G. Kim ◽  
Rahul Mahajan

Abstract A linearized prognostic cloud scheme has been developed to accompany the linearized convection scheme recently implemented in NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System data assimilation tools. The linearization, developed from the nonlinear cloud scheme, treats cloud variables prognostically so they are subject to linearized advection, diffusion, generation, and evaporation. Four linearized cloud variables are modeled, the ice and water phases of clouds generated by large-scale condensation and, separately, by detraining convection. For each species the scheme models their sources, sublimation, evaporation, and autoconversion. Large-scale, anvil and convective species of precipitation are modeled and evaporated. The cloud scheme exhibits linearity and realistic perturbation growth, except around the generation of clouds through large-scale condensation. Discontinuities and steep gradients are widely used here and severe problems occur in the calculation of cloud fraction. For data assimilation applications this poor behavior is controlled by replacing this part of the scheme with a perturbation model. For observation impacts, where efficiency is less of a concern, a filtering is developed that examines the Jacobian. The replacement scheme is only invoked if Jacobian elements or eigenvalues violate a series of tuned constants. The linearized prognostic cloud scheme is tested by comparing the linear and nonlinear perturbation trajectories for 6-, 12-, and 24-h forecast times. The tangent linear model performs well and perturbations of clouds are well captured for the lead times of interest.


2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Buehner ◽  
Ping Du ◽  
Joël Bédard

Abstract Two types of approaches are commonly used for estimating the impact of arbitrary subsets of observations on short-range forecast error. The first was developed for variational data assimilation systems and requires the adjoint of the forecast model. Comparable approaches were developed for use with the ensemble Kalman filter and rely on ensembles of forecasts. In this study, a new approach for computing observation impact is proposed for ensemble–variational data assimilation (EnVar). Like standard adjoint approaches, the adjoint of the data assimilation procedure is implemented through the iterative minimization of a modified cost function. However, like ensemble approaches, the adjoint of the forecast step is obtained by using an ensemble of forecasts. Numerical experiments were performed to compare the new approach with the standard adjoint approach in the context of operational deterministic NWP. Generally similar results are obtained with both approaches, especially when the new approach uses covariance localization that is horizontally advected between analysis and forecast times. However, large differences in estimated impacts are obtained for some surface observations. Vertical propagation of the observation impact is noticeably restricted with the new approach because of vertical covariance localization. The new approach is used to evaluate changes in observation impact as a result of the use of interchannel observation error correlations for radiance observations. The estimated observation impact in similarly configured global and regional prediction systems is also compared. Overall, the new approach should provide useful estimates of observation impact for data assimilation systems based on EnVar when an adjoint model is not available.


2001 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 347-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Hello ◽  
F. Bouttier

Abstract. One approach recently proposed in order to improve the forecast of weather events, such as cyclogenesis, is to increase the number of observations in areas depending on the flow configuration. These areas are obtained using, for example, the sensitivity to initial conditions of a selected predicted cyclone. An alternative or complementary way is proposed here. The idea is to employ such an adjoint sensitivity field as a local structure function within variational data assimilation, 3D-Var in this instance. Away from the sensitive area, observation increments project on the initial fields with the usual climatological (or weakly flow-dependent, in the case of 4D-Var) structure functions. Within the sensitive area, the gradient fields are projected using all the available data in the zone, conventional or extra, if any. The formulation of the technique is given and the approach is further explained by using a simple 1D scheme. The technique is implemented in the ARPEGE/IFS code and applied to 11 FASTEX (Fronts and Atlantic Storm-Track Experiment) cyclone cases, together with the targeted observations performed at the time of the campaign. The new approach is shown to allow for the desired stronger impact of the available observations and to systematically improve the forecasts of the FASTEX cyclones, unlike the standard 3D-Var.


2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 3766-3784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Lopez

Abstract This paper first reviews the current status, issues, and limitations of the parameterizations of atmospheric large-scale and convective moist processes that are used in numerical weather prediction and climate general circulation models. Both large-scale (resolved) and convective (subgrid scale) moist processes are dealt with. Then, the general question of the inclusion of diabatic processes in variational data assimilation systems is addressed. The focus is put on linearity and resolution issues, the specification of model and observation error statistics, the formulation of the control vector, and the problems specific to the assimilation of observations directly affected by clouds and precipitation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 513-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Grooms ◽  
Y. Lee

Abstract. Superparameterization (SP) is a multiscale computational approach wherein a large scale atmosphere or ocean model is coupled to an array of simulations of small scale dynamics on periodic domains embedded into the computational grid of the large scale model. SP has been successfully developed in global atmosphere and climate models, and is a promising approach for new applications. The authors develop a 3D-Var variational data assimilation framework for use with SP; the relatively low cost and simplicity of 3D-Var in comparison with ensemble approaches makes it a natural fit for relatively expensive multiscale SP models. To demonstrate the assimilation framework in a simple model, the authors develop a new system of ordinary differential equations similar to the two-scale Lorenz-'96 model. The system has one set of variables denoted {Yi}, with large and small scale parts, and the SP approximation to the system is straightforward. With the new assimilation framework the SP model approximates the large scale dynamics of the true system accurately.


2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 774-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude Fischer ◽  
Ludovic Auger

Abstract This paper deals with the characteristics and effects of digital filter initialization, as implemented in the operational three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) system of the Aire Limitée Adaptation Dynamique Développement International (ALADIN)-France regional weather forecast model. First, a series of findings on the properties of the initialization of the model are discussed. Examples of initial spinup linked with inertia–gravity wave occurrence are shown, and the major sources for their generation are listed. These experimental results are compared with past and present experiences concerning the use and need for digital filter initialization. Furthermore, the impacts of switching to an incremental formulation of the filter in data assimilation mode are demonstrated. Second, the effects of the filter formulation on the results of an observation impact study are illustrated. The latter consists of implementing screen-level, 10-m horizontal wind information into the ALADIN 3DVAR analysis. There can, indeed, be some delicate interference between observation impact evaluation and the effects of filtering, at least on short-term forecasts. The paper is concluded with some general considerations on the experimental evaluation of spinup and the link between the assimilation system design and model state filtering.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Korn

AbstractFor the primitive equations of large-scale atmosphere and ocean dynamics, we study the problem of determining by means of a variational data assimilation algorithm initial conditions that generate strong solutions which minimize the distance to a given set of time-distributed observations. We suggest a modification of the adjoint algorithm whose novel elements is to use norms in the variational cost functional that reflects the $$H^1$$ H 1 -regularity of strong solutions of the primitive equations. For such a cost functional, we prove the existence of minima and a first-order adjoint condition for strong solutions that provides the basis for computing these minima. We prove the local convergence of a gradient-based descent algorithm to optimal initial conditions using the second-order adjoint primitive equations. The algorithmic modifications due to the $$H^1$$ H 1 -norms are straightforwardly to implement into a variational algorithm that employs the standard $$L^2$$ L 2 -metrics.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Larnier ◽  
Jerome Monnier

Abstract. A new algorithm to estimate river discharges from altimetry measurements only is designed. A first estimation is obtained by an artificial neural network trained from the altimetry large scale water surface measurements plus drainage area information. The combination of this purely data-based estimation and a dedicated algebraic flow model provides a first physically-consistent estimation. The latter is next employed as the first guess of an advanced variational data assimilation formulation. The final estimation is highly accurate for rivers presenting features within the learning partition; for rivers far outside the learning partition, the space-time variations of discharge remain accurately approximated however the global estimation presents a potential bias. Indeed, it is shown that if the estimation is based on the hydrodynamics models only, the inverse problem may be well-defined but up to a bias only (the bias scales the global estimation). This bias is removed thanks to the ANN but for rivers in the learning partition only. For rivers outside the learning partition, any mean value (eg. annual, seasonal) enables to remove the bias. Finally, the present hybrid and hierarchical inversion strategy seems to provide much more accurate estimations compared to the state-of-the-art for the considered 29 heterogeneous river portions.


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