ESTIMATION OF OBSERVATION IMPACT WITH AN ENSEMBLE SENSITIVITY METHOD

The ensemble based forecast sensitivity to observation method by Liu and Kalnay is applied to the SPEEDY-LETKF system to estimate the observation impact of three types of simulated observations. The estimation results show that all types of observations have positive impact on short-range forecast. The largest impact in Northern Hemisphere is produced by rawinsondes, followed by satellite retrieved profiles and cloud drift wind data, which in Southern Hemisphere is produced by satellite retrieved profiles, rawinsondes and cloud drift wind data. Satellite retrieved profiles influence more on the Southern Hemisphere than on the Northern Hemisphere due to few observations from rawinsondes in the Southern Hemisphere. At the level of 200 to 300 hPa, the largest impact is attributed to wind observations from rawinsondes and cloud drift wind.     

METOP星载干涉式超高光谱分辨率红外大气探测仪(IASI)及其产品

为了深入了解国际卫星红外大气探测仪器的新特点,以欧洲METOP卫星装载的超高光谱红外大气探测仪(IASI:Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer)为例,介绍卫星红外探测仪研发背景、仪器特征和数据产品处理,并与第1个高光谱大气红外探测仪(AIRS:Atmosphenic Inftared Sounder)作了比较分析.采用干涉分光技术的IASI为地球大气遥感提供了丰富的研究资料,可用于反演大气、海洋、云和大气成分,对我国风云卫星的高光谱红外大气垂直探测仪器的研发具有重要参考价值.     

Impact of assimilating IASI radiance observations on forecasts of two tropical cyclones

The impact of assimilating Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) radiance observations on the analyses and forecasts of Hurricane Maria (2011) and Typhoon Megi (2010) is assessed using Weather Research and Forecasting Data Assimilation (WRFDA). A cloud-detection scheme (McNally and Watts 2003) was implemented in WRFDA for cloud contamination detection for radiances measured by high spectral resolution infrared sounders. For both Hurricane Maria and Typhoon Megi, IASI radiances with channels around 15-μm CO₂ band had consistent positive impact on the forecast skills for track, minimum sea level pressure, and maximum wind speed. For Typhoon Megi, the error reduction appeared to be more pronounced for track than for minimum sea level pressure and maximum wind. The sensitivity experiments with 6.7-μm H₂O band were also conducted. The 6.7-μm band also had some positive impact on the track and minimum sea level pressure. The improvement for maximum wind speed forecasts from the 6.7-μm band was evident, especially for the first 42 h. The 15-μm band consistently improved specific humidity forecast and we found improved temperature and horizontal wind forecast on most levels. Generally, assimilating the 6.7-μm band degraded forecasts, likely indicating the inefficiency of the current WRF model and/or data assimilation system for assimilating these channels. IASI radiance assimilation apparently improved depiction of dynamic and thermodynamic vortex structures.     

基于一维变分算法的红外高光谱(IASI)卫星遥感大气温湿廓线研究

大气温湿度廓线是大气重要参数,在数值天气预报及天气预警中具有重要的应用价值。为获得高精度的大气温度与水汽混合比廓线数据,研究了基于Metop-A/IASI红外高光谱资料的大气温度与水汽混合比廓线变分反演方法。利用IASI高光谱传感器温度和水汽探测通道资料,结合CRTM模式和WRF模式预报技术,使用一维变分方法,研究了卫星资料质量控制、背景误差协方差本地化、观测误差协方差计算等方法,构建了大气温度及水汽混合比廓线变分反演系统,并在北京、青岛、沈阳3个地区开展了反演试验。以探空为标准的反演结果对比显示,使用WRF模式预报值作为背景场,温度的平均误差绝对值小于0.6 K,均方根误差为0.89 K;水汽混合比的平均误差绝对值小于0.021 g/kg,均方根误差为0.02 g/kg。试验结果表明:基于一维变分方法,可以利用Metop-A/IASI红外高光谱资料进行大气温度与水汽混合比廓线高精度探测。     

On the assimilation of satellite sounder data in cloudy skies in numerical weather prediction models

Satellite measurements are an important source of global observations in support of numerical weather prediction (NWP). The assimilation of satellite radiances under clear skies has greatly improved NWP forecast scores. However, the application of radiances in cloudy skies remains a significant challenge. In order to better assimilate radiances in cloudy skies, it is very important to detect any clear field-of-view (FOV) accurately and assimilate cloudy radiances appropriately. Research progress on both clear FOV detection methodologies and cloudy radiance assimilation techniques are reviewed in this paper. Overview on approaches being implemented in the operational centers and studied by the satellite data assimilation research community is presented. Challenges and future directions for satellite sounder radiance assimilation in cloudy skies in NWP models are also discussed.     

Validation of IASI-Retrieved Atmospheric Water Vapor Data over the Tibetan Plateau Region

The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) is a new-generation ultraspectral atmospheric sounding instrument mounted on the MetOp-A, the first operational polar-orbiting satellite developed by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). It is an ultrahigh spectral-resolution atmospheric detector which can detect atmospheric chemical composition, temperature, and humidity profiles with high accuracy and resolution. In the present study, through comparative analyses of the similarities and differences between the IASI and the radiosonde observation (RAOB) water vapor data, and between the IASI and the Aqua-AIRS water vapor retrievals, a detailed and systematic assessment of the credibility of the IASI water vapor retrievals over the plateau region was made. A comparison of the IASI retrievals with the AIRS retrievals and the RAOB measurements over the Tibetan Plateau revealed that the IASI retrieval data are reliable and can be used for conducting further studies.     

GRAPES全球三维变分同化系统的检验与诊断

中国气象局数值预报中心新近升级的GRAPES全球三维变分同化系统的大气基本状态变量在物理属性与定义的网格和坐标上与预报模式保持一致,是一个完全针对GRAPES预报模式的同化系统。该系统不仅有利于减小分析误差,也是构建GRAPES四维变分同化系统的基本环节之一。该文通过与观测资料的对比、与国际其他业务中心分析场的对比,以及中期数值预报的检验,对新的GRAPES全球三维变分同化系统性能进行较全面讨论,并通过对这一系统的检验,探索资料同化系统性能的检验方法,尤其是观测资料同化效果的定量评价方法。诊断结果表明:在宏观特征上,GRAPES变分同化系统的分析场与欧洲中期数值预报中心和美国国家环境预测中心的分析场十分相似, 但细节上仍有差别。这些差别主要源自GRAPES同化系统中探空、地面报、掩星以及飞机报观测的贡献偏大,而卫星垂直探测仪观测资料的作用尚未充分发挥。从探测单要素来讲,风及湿度观测的作用发挥不够。此外,青藏高原周围地区、模式高层及赤道地区分析场偏差较大,它们与模式地形及高层的处理等有关系,这些问题有待进一步改进。     

Added-value of GEO-hyperspectral Infrared Radiances for LocalSevere Storm Forecasts Using the Hybrid OSSE Method

正021-0443-1.Article Highlights:·The added-value from a GEO-hyperspectral IR sounder is studied by using a hybrid OSSE method.·The hybrid OSSE system can be used to evaluate the simulated GEO CrIS-FSR data by verifying the simulated LEO CrIS-FSR compared to the real CrIS-FSR.·The assimilation of GEO-hyperspectral IR data improves atmospheric temperature, moisture, wind, and precipitation forecasts.·An overall 5%RMSE reduction was found from using a GEO hyperspectral IR sounder on the atmospheric variables.     

气象卫星资料同化的科学问题与前景

从数值天气预报资料同化的角度,分析了气象卫星观测与常规气象观测的不同特点形成了卫星资料同化的特殊科学问题.由于各类星载遥感仪器所观测到的是一定波长的电磁辐射,不能像传统的直接观测资料一样被预报模式直接应用.又由于卫星观测对象是整个大气层,而不是特定高度的大气,因此确定卫星观测影响的高度和它的潜在垂直分辨率成为一个关键问题.卫星观测还可能存在着系统性的偏差,这与直接观测的误差互相独立也有很大区别.资料同化通常建立在模式预报(即背景信息)与观测量的比较的基础上,为了实现同化,需要将模式的基本大气变量转换成星载仪器所获得的特定波长的电磁波特征量,或者将观测到的电磁辐射特征量反算成大气的特征量.前者需要引入复杂的观测算子,后者则将复杂的反演过程交给了前处理阶段.这就形成了直接与间接同化卫星资料的两种不同策略,策略的选择取决于同化系统处理复杂观测资料的能力,对同化效果有决定性的影响.逐个分析了目前用于数值预报的5种卫星观测资料,即星载大气垂直探测器资料、大气运动矢量资料、散射仪海面风资料、卫星观测的云与降水信息资料与GPS掩星观测资料的同化的进展与有待解决的主要问题,概述了中国近年在大气垂直探测器等卫星资料同化中的研究进展及其业务应用的效果,并提出了今后需要予以特别关注的研究方向.     

Impact of Assimilating Radiances with the WRFDA ETKF/3DVAR Hybrid System on Prediction of Two Typhoons in 2012

The impacts of AMSU-A and IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) radiances assimila-tion on the prediction of typhoons Vicente and Saola (2012) are studied by using the ensemble transform ...     

Atmosphere data assimilation system for the Siberian region with the WRF-ARW model and three-dimensional variational analysis WRF 3D-Var

The system of the cyclic assimilation of data on atmospheric conditions used in the West Siberian Administration for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring is described. It is based on the WRF-ARW mesoscale atmospheric model and on the WRF 3D-Var system of the three-dimensional variational analysis of data. The system is verified when the first approximation data (6-hour forecast) and WRF-ARW forecasts with the lead time up to 24 hours are compared with the observational data. The problems of assimilation of observations from the AMSU-A and AIRS satellite instruments are considered. The effect of using AMSU-A and AIRS for the analysis in the Novosibirsk region is estimated. The experiments demonstrated that the cyclic data assimilation system operates successfully. The AMSU-A observations improve the quality of analyses and forecasts in winter. In summer the impact of satellite observations on the forecast skill scores is ambiguous. Good short-term forecasts are provided by the initial conditions obtained using the system of detailing of the NCEP large-scale analysis.     

红外高光谱IASI卫星资料同化对一次大风过程的影响研究

以2019年4月24日发生在辽宁省的一次大风天气过程为例,选取GFS(全球预报系统) 0.25°×0.25°再分析资料,基于WRF模式三维变分同化技术,进行一组IASI资料同化试验,和未同化任何资料的控制试验(CTNL)。通过对比两组试验结果考察IASI资料同化改进数值模式初始场的分析及其后续预报的机制。研究结果表明：经过IASI资料同化的模拟结果质量有很大改善,分析场与背景场相比更靠近观测场；经过云检测之后不同通道使用的观测数目多少不一,资料同化对模拟的改善效果在通道0~800最佳；IASI资料同化对地表10 m风场的预报技巧有显著的提高作用,相比控制试验可以更精准地预报大风天气的区域和强度；IASI同化试验的预报质量高于控制试验且随时间比较稳定。     

Value-added Impact of Geostationary Hyperspectral Infrared Sounders on Local Severe Storm Forecasts——via a Quick Regional OSSE

Accurate atmospheric temperature and moisture information with high temporal/spatial resolutions are two of the key parameters needed in regional numerical weather prediction(NWP) models to reliably predict high-impact weather events such as local severe storms(LSSs). High spectral resolution or hyperspectral infrared(HIR) sounders from geostationary orbit(GEO) provide an unprecedented source of near time-continuous, three-dimensional information on the dynamic and thermodynamic atmospheric fields—an important benefit for nowcasting and NWP-based forecasting. In order to demonstrate the value of GEO HIR sounder radiances on LSS forecasts, a quick regional OSSE(Observing System Simulation Experiment)framework has been developed, including high-resolution nature run generation, synthetic observation simulation and validation, and impact study on LSS forecasts. Results show that, on top of the existing LEO(low earth orbit) sounders, a GEO HIR sounder may provide value-added impact [a reduction of 3.56% in normalized root-mean-square difference(RMSD)] on LSS forecasts due to large spatial coverage and high temporal resolution, even though the data are assimilated every 6 h with a thinning of 60 km. Additionally, more frequent assimilations and smaller thinning distances allow more observations to be assimilated, and may further increase the positive impact from a GEO HIR sounder. On the other hand, with denser and more frequent observations assimilated, it becomes more difficult to handle the spatial error correlation in observations and gravity waves due to the limitations of current assimilation and forecast systems(such as a static background error covariance). The peak reduction of 4.6% in normalized RMSD is found when observations are assimilated every 3 h with a thinning distance of 30 km.     

The Impact of Satellite Radiance Data Assimilation within a Frequently Updated Regional Forecast System Using a GSI-based Ensemble Kalman Filter

A regional ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation (DA) and forecast system was recently established based on the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) analysis system. The EnKF DA system was tested with continuous threehourly updated cycles followed by 18-h deterministic forecasts from every three-hourly ensemble mean analysis. Initial tests showed negative to neutral impacts of assimilating satellite radiance data due to the improper bias correction procedure. In this study, two bias correction schemes within the established EnKF DA system are investigated and the impact of assimilating additional polar-orbiting satellite radiance is also investigated. Two group experiments are conducted. The purpose of the first group is to evaluate the bias correction procedure. Two online bias correction methods based on GSI 3DVar and EnKF algorithms are used to assimilate AMSU-A radiance data. Results show that both variational and EnKF-based bias correction procedures effectively reduce the observation and background radiance differences, achieving positive impacts on forecasts. With proper bias correction, we assimilate full radiance observations including AMSU-A, AMSU-B, AIRS, HIRS3/4, and MHS in the second group. The relative percentage improvements(RPIs) for all forecast variables compared to those without radiance data assimilation are mostly positive, with the RPI of upper-air relative humidity being the largest. Additionally, precipitation forecasts on a downscaled 13-km grid from 40-km EnKF analyses are also improved by radiance assimilation for almost all forecast hours.     

The impact of the assimilation of scatterometer winds on surface wind and wave forecasts

Recent work has demonstrated that surface marine winds from the Bureau of Meteorology's operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) systems are typically underestimated by 5 to 10%. This is likely to cause significant bias in modelled wave fields that are forced by these winds. A simple statistical adjustment of the wind components is shown to reduce the observed bias in Significant Wave Height considerably. The impact of increasing the vertical resolution of the NWP model and assimilating scatterometer data into the model is assessed by comparing the resulting forecast wind and waves to observations. It is found that, in general, the inclusion of scatterometer observations improves the accuracy of the surface wind forecasts. However, most of the improvement is shown to arise from the increased number of vertical levels in the atmospheric model, rather than directly from the use of the observations. When the wave model is forced with surface winds from the NWP model that includes scatterometer data, it is found that the scatterometer assimilation does not reduce the systematic bias in surface wave forecasts, but that the random errors are reduced.     

国际卫星红外大气探测器发展新特点

为了深入了解国际卫星红外大气探测仪器的新特点,推动其资料应用,以美国NASA Aqua卫星装载的高光谱红外大气探测仪器AIRS(Atmospheric Infrared Sounder)为例,介绍卫星红外探测仪研发背景、仪器特征、研制技术、数据产品处理和应用。研究表明,AIRS开辟了卫星大气探测的新时代,它为其他未升空的高光谱仪器提供了不可或缺的研究资料,对将装载于我国风云卫星的高光谱红外大气垂直探测仪器的研制具有重大的参考价值。     

Wind Speed and Altitude Dependent AMDAR Observational Error and Its Impacts on Data Assimilation and Forecasting

Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) observations have been widely used in numerical weather prediction (NWP) because of its high spatiotemporal resolution. The observational error of AMDAR is influenced by aircraft flight altitude and atmospheric condition. In this study, the wind speed and altitude dependent observational error of AMDAR is estimated. The statistical results show that the temperature and the observational error in wind speeds slightly decrease as altitude increases, and the observational error in wind speed increases as wind speed increases. Pseudo single AMDAR observation assimilation tests demonstrate that the wind speed and altitude dependent observational error can provide more reasonable analysis increment. Furthermore, to assess the performance of wind speed and altitude dependent observational error on data assimilation and forecasting, two-month 3-hourly cycling data assimilation and forecast experiments based on the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) and its Data Assimilation system (WRFDA) are performed for the period during 1 September-31 October, 2017. The results of the two-month 3-hourly cycling experiments indicate that new observational error improves analysis and forecast of wind field and geo-potential height, and has slight improvements on temperature. The Fractions Skill Score (FSS) of the 6-h accumulated precipitation shows that new wind speed and altitude dependent observational error leads to better precipitation forecast skill than the default observational error in the WRFDA does.     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE 3DVAR ASSIMILATION OF THE AMSU-A DATA IN SPACE-TIME MULTISCALE ANALYSIS SYSTEM

Assimilating satellite radiances into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models has become an important approach to increase the accuracy of numerical weather forecasting. In this study, the assimilation technique scheme was employed in NOAA’s STMAS (Space-Time Multiscale Analysis System) to assimilate AMSU-A radiances data. Channel selection sensitivity experiments were conducted on assimilated satellite data in the first place. Then, real case analysis of AMSU-A data assimilation was performed. The analysis results showed that, following assimilating of AMSU-A channels 5–11 in STMAS, the objective function quickly converged, and the channel vertical response was consistent with the AMSU-A weighting function distribution, which suggests that the channels can be used in the assimilation of satellite data in STMAS. With the case of the Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan Island in August 2009 as an example, experiments on assimilated and unassimilated AMSU-A radiances data were designed to analyze the impact of the assimilation of satellite data on STMAS. The results demonstrated that assimilation of AMSU-A data provided more accurate prediction of the precipitation region and intensity, and especially, it improved the 0–6h precipitation forecast significantly.     

区域极轨卫星ATOVS辐射偏差订正方法研究

近年来,卫星辐射资料在数值天气预报(NWP)系统中的直接同化研究取得了长足进展。为了利用TIROS业务垂直探测器(ATOVS)的辐射资料,必须对卫星观测辐射值的系统性偏差进行订正。在ECMWF原全球TOVS辐射偏差订正方案基础上,结合ATOVS资料特征和中国的实际情况,建立了适用于区域NOAA-15/16/17极轨气象卫星ATOVS辐射资料的偏差订正方案。该方案偏差订正分两步进行:首先进行扫描偏差订正,然后进行气团偏差订正。扫描偏差是临边测量相对于星下点测量的系统偏差,统计显示该种偏差具有一定的纬度依赖性,所以订正时按每10度的纬度带分别进行订正。气团偏差订正主要就是根据当时的天气条件进行订正,而天气条件一般用预报因子来定量表示。文中从中国国家气象中心T213背景场导出预报因子:(1)1000—300 hPa的厚度,(2)200—50 hPa的厚度,(3)模式地表温度,(4)总可降水量。模式预报因子的使用从观念上将对观测值的订正变为对计算前向辐射值的订正问题。试验结果表明,订正结果显著。     

A Study on Height Reassignment for the AMV Products of the FY-2C Satellite

A method for using height reassignment to improve the quality of satellite-derived atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) is presented. The rationale underlying height reassignment is explored, and the technical details are studied by applying three height reassignment schemes that use NCEP reanalysis winds. The quality of the AMVs is generally improved following reassignment, although the magnitude of the improvement differs according to the scheme applied. Scheme 3 provides the best quality and stability, followed by Scheme 1 and Scheme 2. The negative biases in the zonal components of the AMVs decrease from [-5,-4] m s-1to <-1 m s-1following reassignment. The meridional components also improve. The AMVs derived from the infrared and water vapor channels improve by 58.7% and 25%, respectively. The feasibility of using Scheme 3 in the operational derivation of AMVs is studied by incorporating the forecast wind field predicted by a T511 medium-range numerical weather prediction (NWP) system. Incorporating the 120-h forecast reduces the negative biases in zonal winds and positive biases in meridional winds retrieved from the water vapor channel, improving the overall quality of the AMVs by 26.7%. Extending the validity period of the forecast field linearly reduces the improvement in retrieved AMVs, but the magnitude of this reduction is small. Incorporating the 120-h forecast field still results in a 13% improvement, although it may eliminate a larger number of AMVs of good quality.