Development and Testing of Improved Techniques for Modeling the Hydrologic Cycle in a Mesoscale Weather Prediction System

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas T. Warner
2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (12) ◽  
pp. 3431-3449 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Barker

Abstract Ensemble data assimilation systems incorporate observations into numerical models via solution of the Kalman filter update equations, and estimates of forecast error covariances derived from ensembles of model integrations. In this paper, a particular algorithm, the ensemble square root filter (EnSRF), is tested in a limited-area, polar numerical weather prediction (NWP) model: the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS). For application in the real-time AMPS, the number of model integrations that can be run to provide forecast error covariances is limited, resulting in an ensemble sampling error that degrades the analysis fit to observations. In this work, multivariate, climatologically plausible forecast error covariances are specified via averaged forecast difference statistics. Ensemble representations of the “true” forecast errors, created using randomized control variables of the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system, are then used to assess the dependence of sampling error on ensemble size, data density, and localization of covariances using simulated observation networks. Results highlight the detrimental impact of ensemble sampling error on the analysis increment structure of correlated, but unobserved fields—an issue not addressed by the spatial covariance localization techniques used to date. A 12-hourly cycling EnSRF/AMPS assimilation/forecast system is tested for a two-week period in December 2002 using real, conventional (surface, rawinsonde, satellite retrieval) observations. The dependence of forecast scores on methods used to maintain ensemble spread and the inclusion of perturbations to lateral boundary conditions are studied.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tien Du Duc ◽  
Lars Robert Hole ◽  
Duc Tran Anh ◽  
Cuong Hoang Duc ◽  
Thuy Nguyen Ba

The national numerical weather prediction system of Vietnam is presented and evaluated. The system is based on three main models, namely, the Japanese Global Spectral Model, the US Global Forecast System, and the US Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The global forecast products have been received at 0.25- and 0.5-degree horizontal resolution, respectively, and the WRF model has been run locally with 16 km horizontal resolution at the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting using lateral conditions from GSM and GFS. The model performance is evaluated by comparing model output against observations of precipitation, wind speed, and temperature at 168 weather stations, with daily data from 2010 to 2014. In general, the global models provide more accurate forecasts than the regional models, probably due to the low horizontal resolution in the regional model. Also, the model performance is poorer for stations with altitudes greater than 500 meters above sea level (masl). For tropical cyclone performance validations, the maximum wind surface forecast from global and regional models is also verified against the best track of Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Finally, the model forecast skill during a recent extreme rain event in northeast Vietnam is evaluated.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1107-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enza Di Tomaso ◽  
Nick A. J. Schutgens ◽  
Oriol Jorba ◽  
Carlos Pérez García-Pando

Abstract. A data assimilation capability has been built for the NMMB-MONARCH chemical weather prediction system, with a focus on mineral dust, a prominent type of aerosol. An ensemble-based Kalman filter technique (namely the local ensemble transform Kalman filter – LETKF) has been utilized to optimally combine model background and satellite retrievals. Our implementation of the ensemble is based on known uncertainties in the physical parametrizations of the dust emission scheme. Experiments showed that MODIS AOD retrievals using the Dark Target algorithm can help NMMB-MONARCH to better characterize atmospheric dust. This is particularly true for the analysis of the dust outflow in the Sahel region and over the African Atlantic coast. The assimilation of MODIS AOD retrievals based on the Deep Blue algorithm has a further positive impact in the analysis downwind from the strongest dust sources of the Sahara and in the Arabian Peninsula. An analysis-initialized forecast performs better (lower forecast error and higher correlation with observations) than a standard forecast, with the exception of underestimating dust in the long-range Atlantic transport and degradation of the temporal evolution of dust in some regions after day 1. Particularly relevant is the improved forecast over the Sahara throughout the forecast range thanks to the assimilation of Deep Blue retrievals over areas not easily covered by other observational datasets. The present study on mineral dust is a first step towards data assimilation with a complete aerosol prediction system that includes multiple aerosol species.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1605-1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Rennie ◽  
Peter Steinle ◽  
Alan Seed ◽  
Mark Curtis ◽  
Yi Xiao

AbstractA new quality control system, primarily using a naïve Bayesian classifier, has been developed to enable the assimilation of radial velocity observations from Doppler radar. The ultimate assessment of this system is the assimilation of observations in a pseudo-operational numerical weather prediction system during the Sydney 2014 Forecast Demonstration Project. A statistical analysis of the observations assimilated during this period provides an assessment of the data quality. This will influence how observations will be assimilated in the future, and what quality control and errors are applicable. This study compares observation-minus-background statistics for radial velocities from precipitation and insect echoes. The results show that with the applied level of quality control, these echo types have comparable biases. With the latest quality control, the clear air observations of wind are apparently of similar quality to those from precipitation and are therefore suitable for use in high-resolution NWP assimilation systems.


2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1027-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy E. Ghirardelli ◽  
Bob Glahn

Abstract The Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL) has developed and implemented an aviation weather prediction system that runs each hour and produces forecast guidance for each hour into the future out to 25 h covering the major forecast period of the National Weather Service (NWS) Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. The Localized Aviation Model Output Statistics (MOS) Program (LAMP) consists of analyses of observations, simple advective models, and a statistical component that updates the longer-range MOS forecasts from the Global Forecast System (GFS) model. LAMP, being an update to GFS MOS, is shown to be an improvement over it, as well as improving over persistence. LAMP produces probabilistic forecasts for the aviation weather elements of ceiling height, sky cover, visibility, obstruction to vision, precipitation occurrence and type, and thunderstorms. Best-category forecasts are derived from these probabilities and their associated thresholds. The LAMP guidance of sensible weather is available for 1591 stations in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Probabilistic guidance of thunderstorms is also available on a grid. The LAMP guidance is available to the entire weather enterprise via NWS communication networks and the World Wide Web. In the future, all station guidance will be gridded and be made available in a form compatible with the NWS’s National Digital Forecast Database.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1675-1691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Xia ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Jun Du ◽  
Xiefei Zhi ◽  
Jingzhuo Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract This study experimented with a unified scheme of stochastic physics and bias correction within a regional ensemble model [Global and Regional Assimilation and Prediction System–Regional Ensemble Prediction System (GRAPES-REPS)]. It is intended to improve ensemble prediction skill by reducing both random and systematic errors at the same time. Three experiments were performed on top of GRAPES-REPS. The first experiment adds only the stochastic physics. The second experiment adds only the bias correction scheme. The third experiment adds both the stochastic physics and bias correction. The experimental period is one month from 1 to 31 July 2015 over the China domain. Using 850-hPa temperature as an example, the study reveals the following: 1) the stochastic physics can effectively increase the ensemble spread, while the bias correction cannot. Therefore, ensemble averaging of the stochastic physics runs can reduce more random error than the bias correction runs. 2) Bias correction can significantly reduce systematic error, while the stochastic physics cannot. As a result, the bias correction greatly improved the quality of ensemble mean forecasts but the stochastic physics did not. 3) The unified scheme can greatly reduce both random and systematic errors at the same time and performed the best of the three experiments. These results were further confirmed by verification of the ensemble mean, spread, and probabilistic forecasts of many other atmospheric fields for both upper air and the surface, including precipitation. Based on this study, we recommend that operational numerical weather prediction centers adopt this unified scheme approach in ensemble models to achieve the best forecasts.


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