Quality Assessment and Forecast Sensitivity of Global Remote Sensing Observations

The satellite-derived wind from cloud and moisture features of geostationary satellites is an important data source for numerical weather prediction(NWP) models. These datasets and global positioning system radio occultation(GPSRO)satellite radiances are assimilated in the four-dimensional variational atmospheric data assimilation system of the UKMO Unified Model in India. This study focuses on the importance of these data in the NWP system and their impact on short-term24-h forecasts. The quality of the wind observations is compared to the short-range forecast from the model background. The observation increments(observation minus background) are computed as the satellite-derived wind minus the model forecast with a 6-h lead time. The results show the model background has a large easterly wind component compared to satellite observations. The importance of each observation in the analysis is studied using an adjoint-based forecast sensitivity to observation method. The results show that at least around 50% of all types of satellite observations are beneficial. In terms of individual contribution, METEOSAT-7 shows a higher percentage of impact(nearly 50%), as compared to GEOS, MTSAT-2and METEOSAT-10, all of which have a less than 25% impact. In addition, the impact of GPSRO, infrared atmospheric sounding interferometer(IASI) and atmospheric infrared sounder(AIRS) data is calculated. The GPSRO observations have beneficial impacts up to 50 km. Over the Southern Hemisphere, the high spectral radiances from IASI and AIRS show a greater impact than over the Northern Hemisphere. The results in this study can be used for further improvements in the use of new and existing satellite observations.     

Assimilation of Global Navigation Satellite Radio Occultation Observations in GRAPES: Operational Implementation

This paper presents the design of an observation operator for assimilation of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) refractivity and the related operational implementation strategy in the global GRAPES variational data assimilation system. A preliminary assessment of the RO data assimilation effect is performed. The results show that the RO data are one of the most important observation types in GRAPES, as they have a significant positive impact on the analysis and forecast at all ranges, especially in the Southern Hemisphere and the global stratosphere where in-situ measurements are lacking. The GRAPES model error cannot be controlled in the Southern Hemisphere without RO data being assimilated. In addition, it is found that the RO data play a key role in the stable running of the GRAPES global assimilation and forecast system. Even in a relatively simple global data assimilation experiment, in which only the conventional and RO data are assimilated, the system is able to run for more than nine months without drift compared with NCEP analyses. The analysis skills in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are still relatively comparable even after nine-month integration, especially in the stratosphere where the number of conventional observations decreases and RO observations with a uniform global coverage dominate gradually.     

Assimilation of Global Navigation Satellite Radio Occultation Observations in GRAPES:Operational Implementation

This paper presents the design of an observation operator for assimilation of global navigation satellite system(GNSS) radio occultation(RO) refractivity and the related operational implementation strategy in the global GRAPES variational data assimilation system.A preliminary assessment of the RO data assimilation effect is performed.The results show that the RO data are one of the most important observation types in GRAPES,as they have a significant positive impact on the analysis and forecast at all ranges,especially in the Southern Hemisphere and the global stratosphere where in-situ measurements are lacking.The GRAPES model error cannot be controlled in the Southern Hemisphere without RO data being assimilated.In addition,it is found that the RO data play a key role in the stable running of the GRAPES global assimilation and forecast system.Even in a relatively simple global data assimilation experiment,in which only the conventional and RO data are assimilated,the system is able to run for more than nine months without drift compared with NCEP analyses.The analysis skills in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are still relatively comparable even after nine-month integration,especially in the stratosphere where the number of conventional observations decreases and RO observations with a uniform global coverage dominate gradually.     

The impact of observation systems on medium-range weather forecasting in a global forecast system

To investigate the impact of various types of data on medium-range forecasts, observing system experiments are performed using an assimilation algorithm based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/Department of Energy (DOE) reanalysis system. Data-denial experiments for radiosonde, satellite, aircraft, and sea surface observations, and selected data experiments for radiosonde and surface data, are conducted for the boreal summer of 1997 and the boreal winter of 1997/1998. The data assimilation system used in this study is remarkably dependent on radiosonde data, which provides information about the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere. As expected, the impact of radiosonde observations on medium-range forecasts is strongly positive over the Northern Hemisphere and tropics, whereas the satellite system is most beneficial over the Southern Hemisphere. These results are also found in experiments simulating historical changes in observation systems. Over the tropics, assimilation without radiosonde observations generates unbalanced analyses resulting in unrealistic forecasts that must be corrected by the forecast model. Forecasts based on analysis from the observation data before the era of radiosonde observation are found to be less meaningful. In addition, the impacts on forecasts are closely related to the geographical distribution of observation data. The memory of observation data embedded in the analysis tends to persist throughout forecasts. However, cases exist where the effect of forecast error growth is more dominant than that of analysis error, e.g., over East Asia in summer, and where the deficiency in observations is supplemented or the imbalance in analysis is adjusted by the forecast model during the period of forecasts. Forecast error growth may be related to the synoptic correction performed by the data assimilation system. Over data-rich areas, analysis fields are corrected to a greater extent by the data assimilation system than are those over data-poor areas, which can cause the forecast model to produce more forecast errors in medium-range forecasts. It is found that even one month per season is sufficient for forecast skill verification in data impact experiments. Additionally, the use of upper-air observations is found to benefit areas that are downstream of observation data-rich areas.     

硫酸盐气溶胶对全球水循环因子的影响

  利用卫星资料进一步检验了CAM3.0模式对云的模拟能力,该模式可以较好地再现全球云的分布和季节变化的主要特征。在硫循环过程与辐射和动力过程之间双向耦合的情况下,探讨了硫酸盐气溶胶直接气候效应对水循环过程的影响。模式较好地模拟了硫酸盐气溶胶的浓度和分布变化。硫酸盐气溶胶对水循环因子的影响在不同季节和区域是不同的,其中,北半球夏季的影响最大,这是因为北半球夏季硫酸盐浓度最高。纬向平均的云量、降水和水汽的变化形势大部分相似,存在比较密切的联系。     

基于集合的观测资料影响性评价——简单AGCM的理想试验

在Liu and Kalnay (2008) 的研究基础上, 将基于集合的观测资料影响性评价方法(简称LK08法)运用到一个简单的大气环流模式中, 对模拟探空资料的预报影响性进行了综合评价, 考察了LK08法在真实大气环流模式上的适用性。研究结果表明, 应用基于集合的评价方法可以一次性计算出同化系统中每个观测的影响性, 然后按观测手段、观测区域等进行影响性数值的简单累加, 以此可以比较不同类型观测的相对影响性。比较结果显示, 不同半球的模拟探空观测对预报的总影响性相差不大, 但由于南半球资料个数要远远少于北半球, 因此, 南半球单个观测的影响性要大于北半球的单个观测。不同观测类型对预报的总影响性也不相同。有效性验证分析表明, 按LK08法计算得到的总体观测影响性能解释实际影响性的70%～80%, 且很好地抓住了其变化和走势。     

Two warm frontal passages at Ottawa,Canada

The numerical simulations of Baumhefner (1971, 1972) and Miyakoda and Umscheid (1973) have shown that a “wall” placed at or near the equator has a serious effect on Northern Hemisphere forecasts after 10–14 days.

In practice, however, numerical models have available some information from the Southern Hemisphere. The question is posed, “How much information from the Southern Hemisphere is necessary to yield a forecast for the Northern Hemisphere which is more accurate than that obtained by integrating over the Northern Hemisphere alone?”

A simple numerical experiment demonstrates that a global model in which only the largest scales of the Southern Hemisphere are known at initial time yields a more accurate forecast for the Northern Hemisphere than a hemispheric model.     

Assimilation of Feng-Yun-3B Satellite Microwave Humidity Sounder Data over Land

The ECMWF has been assimilating Feng-Yun-3B(FY-3B) satellite microwave humidity sounder(MWHS) data over ocean in an operational forecasting system since 24 September 2014. It is more difficult, however, to assimilate microwave observations over land and sea ice than over the open ocean due to higher uncertainties in land surface temperature, surface emissivity and less effective cloud screening. We compare approaches in which the emissivity is retrieved dynamically from MWHS channel 1 [150 GHz(vertical polarization)] with the use of an evolving emissivity atlas from 89 GHz observations from the MWHS onboard NOAA and EUMETSAT satellites. The assimilation of the additional data over land improves the fit of short-range forecasts to other observations, notably ATMS(Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder) humidity channels, and the forecast impacts are mainly neutral to slightly positive over the first five days. The forecast impacts are better in boreal summer and the Southern Hemisphere. These results suggest that the techniques tested allow for effective assimilation of MWHS/FY-3B data over land.     

Cross‐equatorial error propagation: Research note

Abstract

Numerical simulation experiments published in 1974 by Daley have been repeated with a much higher resolution, spectral, shallow water model. With a forecast period extending toll d, it is shown that a global model in which only the largest scales are used at initial time in the Southern Hemisphere yields a more accurate forecast for the Northern Hemisphere than a hemispheric model does. Compared with a uniform high‐resolution, global model, the error in the Northern Hemisphere forecast is high in the ultra‐long waves but decreases rather rapidly while the resolution of the initial Southern Hemispheric data is increased.     

GNSS反演资料在GRAPES_Meso三维变分中的应用

为了进一步提高GRAPES_Meso的分析和预报效果,该文在GRAPES_Meso三维变分同化系统中建立了同化GNSS/RO反演的大气资料的观测算子,实现了对GNSS/RO反演的大气资料的同化应用,并通过2013年7月1个月的同化和预报试验分析了GNSS/RO反演大气资料对GRAPES_Meso模式系统分析和预报的影响。结果表明:增加了GNSS/RO反演大气资料的同化后,GRAPES_Meso位势高度场的分析误差明显减小,平均分析误差减小约8%,预报误差略有减小,平均预报误差减小约1%;湿度场的分析误差和预报误差变化不明显,常规观测资料稀少的青藏高原地区的降水预报技巧有所提高,小雨到大雨的ETS (equitable threat score) 评分提高约0.01,对全国及其他分区的降水预报技巧总体上有正效果。     

基于往返式平漂探空的FY-3D卫星反演温度检验

往返式平漂探空观测（以下简称平漂探空）可实现对流层至平流层低层大气温度廓线垂直探测以及平流层低层内持续4 h的水平温度分布探测。该文介绍利用平漂探空试验数据对风云3号气象卫星D星（FY-3D）反演温度数据的检验评估算法,基于该算法和2021年3—9月长江中下游平漂探空试验数据完成对卫星反演大气温度数据的检验。结果显示:FY-3D卫星反演的温度数据准确度总体较高,与平漂探空上升段数据平均绝对偏差约为1.34℃,与下降段数据平均绝对偏差约为1.93℃;卫星反演的100 hPa以上和850 hPa以下温度误差分别偏大0.59℃和0.33℃;卫星反演平流层温度准确度低于温度廓线,平均绝对偏差约为3.92℃;与平漂探空数据相比,卫星大气温度廓线分辨率较低、趋势较平滑,无法显示大气温度垂直分布和平流层温度水平分布的细节特征。     

A SPATIAL-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS STUDY ON THE ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE OBSERVED BY GOSAT SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

The variation of the atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2) concentration plays an important role in global climate and agriculture. We analyzed the spatial-temporal characteristics of CO2 in the China region and around the globe with the CO2 column mixing ratios observed by the Japanese GOSAT satellite (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite). In order to make sure that the accuracy of the CO2 data retrieved by the satellite meets the needs of the climate characteristics analyses, we ran a validation on the CO2 column mixing ratios retrieved by the satellite against the ground-based TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) observation data. The result shows that the two sets of data have a correlation coefficient of higher than 0.7, and a bias of within 2.2 ppmv. Therefore, the GOSAT CO2 data can be used for the climate characteristics analysis of global CO2. Our analysis on the spatial-temporal characteristics of the CO2 column mixing ratios observed during the period of June 2009 through January 2014 proved that, with the impact of the natural emission of near ground CO2 and human activities, the global CO2 concentration has a significant latitudinal characteristics with its highest level averaging 390 ppmv in the 0-40oN latitudinal zone in the Northern Hemisphere, and 387 ppmv in the Southern Hemisphere. China has a relatively higher CO2 concentration with the highest level exceeding 398 ppmv, and the eastern area higher than the western area. The variation of global CO2 concentration shows a seasonal pattern, i.e. the CO2 concentration reaches its highest in spring in the Northern Hemisphere averaging more than 392 ppmv, second highest in winter, and lowest in summer averaging less than 387 ppmv. It fluctuates the most in the Northern Hemisphere with an average concentration of 392.5 ppmv in April, and 385.5 ppmv in July. While in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasonal fluctuation is smaller with the highest concentration occurring in July. Over the recent years, the global CO2 concentration has shown an elevating trend with an average annual increase rate of 1.58 ppmv per year. It is a challenge that the human kind has to face to slow down the increase of the CO2 concentration.     

先进技术微波探测仪(ATMS)云液态水路径算法评估

云液态水路径是气候和天气系统分析的重要参数,可以从卫星观测资料反演获得.目前,基于卫星微波探测仪器观测资料的云水算法可由23.8和31.4 GHz两个通道产生.本研究使用先进技术微波探测仪(ATMS)观测数据,对物理和经验两种算法反演出的云液态水路径进行验证评估.结果表明,经验算法和物理算法都可以描述云液态水在全球洋面...     

INTERANNUAL CHANGE OF EXTRA-TROPICAL METHANE INDUCED BY THE QUASI-BIENNIAL OSCILLATION OF TROPICAL WIND AND ITS FORMATION MECHANISM

Researchers have paid much attention to the influence of the tropical zonal wind quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) on tropical methane, while generally ignoring the change in extra-tropical methane. The present study analyzed the interannual changes in the methane mixing ratio in extra-tropics of both the Southern Hemisphere (SH) and Northern Hemisphere (NH) using Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) satellite data. The results show that interannual changes in extra-tropical methane exhibit QBO features in both hemispheres that are obviously different from those in the tropics. The extra-tropical methane QBO perturbations usually occur in two layers and are longitudinally asymmetrical about the equator. The amplitude of the methane QBO disturbance in the extra-tropics is smaller than that in the tropics from 10 to 1 hPa but much larger in the layer from 30 to 10 hPa. The interannual relative changes in the methane mixing ratio are similar in both the NH extra-tropics and the tropics in the middle and upper stratosphere. Using the National Center for Atmospheric Research two-dimensional, interactive chemical dynamical radiative model (SOCRATES), simulation was conducted to investigate the mechanism of the extra-tropical methane QBO. The results indicate that the tropical stratospheric zonal wind QBO results in the QBO of the induced residual circulation. It is the transport of methane by the induced residual circulation that causes the methane QBO in the extra-tropics. The induced residual circulations in the middle and upper stratosphere are not always longitudinally symmetrical about the equator, resulting in different distribution of the methane QBO in the SH and NH extra-tropics.     

Preliminary Study on Direct Assimilation of Cloud-affected Satellite Microwave Brightness Temperatures

Direct assimilation of cloud-affected microwave brightness temperatures from AMSU-A into the GSI three-dimensional variational(3D-Var) assimilation system is preliminarily studied in this paper. A combination of cloud microphysics parameters retrieved by the 1D-Var algorithm(including vertical profiles of cloud liquid water content, ice water content, and rain water content) and atmospheric state parameters from objective analysis fields of an NWP model are used as background fields. Three cloud microphysics parameters(cloud liquid water content, ice water content, and rain water content) are applied to the control variable. Typhoon Halong(2014) is selected as an example. The results show that direct assimilation of cloud-affected AMSU-A observations can effectively adjust the structure of large-scale temperature, humidity and wind analysis fields due to the assimilation of more AMSU-A observations in typhoon cloudy areas, especially typhoon spiral cloud belts. These adjustments, with temperatures increasing and humidities decreasing in the movement direction of the typhoon,bring the forecasted typhoon moving direction closer to its real path. The assimilation of cloud-affected satellite microwave brightness temperatures can provide better analysis fields that are more similar to the actual situation. Furthermore, typhoon prediction accuracy is improved using these assimilation analysis fields as the initial forecast fields in NWP models.     

Construction of vertical wind profile from satellite-derived winds for objective analysis of wind field

During summer Monex-79, a variety of observing systems viz. research ships, research aircrafts, constant pres-sure balloons and geostationary satellite etc. were deployed, besides the regular conventional observations The pur-pose of these additional systems was to make the best possible data for the studies on various aspects of monsoon cir-culation. The present study is aimed at the construction of vertical wind profile using cloud motion vectors obtained from GOES (I-O) satellite and to examine whether the constructed wind profiles improves the representation of the monsoon system, flow pattern etc. in the objective analysis. For this purpose, climatological normals of the wind field are considered as the initial guess and the objective analyses of the wind field are made with, first using only data from conventional observations over land areas, subsequently including the constructed winds from cloud motion vectors. These analyses are then compared with the standard analyses of wind field obtained from Quick Look Atlas by T. N. Krishnamurti et al. (1979).It is inferred that satellite estimated mean wind profiles show good agreement with the mean wind profiles of the research ships with RMS errors less than 5 mps below 500 hPa and less than 8 mps above 500 hPa. It is further infer-red that the inclusion of constructed winds shows a positive impact on the objective analysis and improvement is seen to be more marked in the data-sparse region of the Arabian sea. Analyses which include the constructed winds show better agreement with the standard analysis, than the analyses obtained using only conventional winds. Thus, results of our study suggest that the wind profiles constructed using cloud motion vectors are of potential use in objective analysis to depict the major circulation features over the Indian region.     

全球大气温度廓线的统计特性分析

利用欧洲数值预报中心发布的第三代ERA-Interim月平均再分析资料对1979—2016年全球大气温度廓线进行统计,分别探讨了南、北半球大气温度廓线平均值和标准差随季节、纬度和海陆的时空分布特征,并与国内外常用的AFGL标准大气廓线进行了对比。研究结果表明:南、北半球各高度层温度的平均值、频数最大温度区间和最大值垂直分布均随高度先减小后增加;在大气低层,多年的温度波动较大,200 hPa处波动达到最小;不论是北半球还是南半球,大气温度平均值廓线均具有典型的纬度差异,其中低纬度季节性差异较小,中纬度次之,高纬季节性差异最大;各季节大气温度廓线的海陆差异不同,且南半球海陆差异比北半球大。大气温度标准差廓线同样存在纬度、海陆和季节分布差异。根据ECMWF再分析资料构建的温度廓线较AFGL标准大气廓线而言具有更加丰富的时空分布等细节特征,并且代表了气候变化后最新的大气温度状况。有关结果可作为现有标准大气廓线的更新和完善,为新型卫星仪器应用性能评估、辐射传输算法和大气反演方法评价和对比分析提供支持。      

多普勒雷达风廓线的反演及变分同化试验

为了将雷达风场资料更好地应用到数值预报模式中, 使用VAD方法反演多普勒雷达风廓线并处理成标准的探空资料进行变分同化试验。结果表明: VAD方法反演的风廓线与探空实况对应较好, 验证了用VAD技术反演风廓线的可行性。用GRAPES-Meso模式的三维变分同化系统对雷达风廓线资料进行同化后, 风场的初始场明显改善, 降水强度和落区预报也有不同程度的改善。其中, 对6 h降水预报的改善明显优于对24 h的预报改善。另外, 在短时强降水预报中, 雷达风场资料的同化频率和同化窗口的不同, 对降水预报的改善情况也有所差异。在个例研究中, 同化间隔为1 h的方案6 h降水预报要优于同化间隔为3 h和6 h的方案, 同化窗口为3 h的试验方案6 h降水预报要好于同化窗口为6 h的试验方案。     

唐古拉地区超声雪深传感器SR-50监测研究

利用2004年5月以来超声雪深传感器SR-50在青藏高原唐古拉综合监测场获取的实时积雪资料和相关气象数据,评估了SR-50在青藏高原积雪监测中的性能和作用,并对青藏高原腹地多年冻土区积雪变化特征进行初步分析。结果表明:超声雪深传感器SR-50对不同时间尺度的地表积雪过程均有较好的监测能力。监测数据清晰地显示唐古拉地区地表积雪深度在夜间相对稳定、在日间迅速降低的特点。唐古拉地区平均年积雪日数为82 d,各月均有地表积雪出现,但夏季的地表积雪较少且持续时间很短。该地区地表积雪总体上呈厚度较薄、消融较快、持续时间较短的特点。2005—2008年该地区瞬时最大积雪深度为22 cm,日平均积雪深度小于5 cm日数占总积雪日数的71.58%。