Review of the Study of Nonlinear Atmospheric Dynamics in China （1999-2002）

Researches on nonlinear atmospheric dynamics in China (1999-2002) are briefly surveyed. This review includes the major achievements in the following branches of nonlinear dynamics: nonlinear stability theory,nonlinear blocking dynamics, 3D spiral structure in the atmosphere, traveling wave solution of the nonlinear evolution equation, numerical predictability in a chaotic system, and global analysis of climate dynamics.Some applications of nonlinear methods such as hierarchy structure of climate and scaling invariance, the spatial-temporal series predictive method, the nonlinear inverse problem, and a new difference scheme with multi-time levels are also introduced.     

数值天气预报和气候预测可预报性研究的若干动力学方法

简要回顾了数值天气预报和气候预测可预报性研究的若干动力学方法,包括用于研究第一类可预报性问题的线性奇异向量（LSV）和条件非线性最优初始扰动（CNOP-I）方法,以及Lyapunov指数和非线性局部Lyapunov指数方法。前两种方法用于研究预报或预测的预报误差问题,可以用于估计天气预报和气候预测的最大预报误差,而且根据导致最大预报误差的初始误差结构的信息,这两种方法可以用于确定预报或预测的初值敏感区。应该指出的是,LSV是基于线性化模式,对于描述非线性大气和海洋的运动具有局限性。因而,对于非线性模式,应该选择使用CNOP-I估计最大预报误差。Lyapunov指数和非线性局部Lyapunov指数可以用于研究第一类可预报性问题中的预报时限问题,前者是基于线性模式,不能解释非线性对预报时限的影响,而非线性局部Lyapunov指数方法则考虑了非线性的影响,能够较好地估计实际天气和气候的预报时限。第二类可预报性问题的研究方法相对较少,本文仅介绍了由我国科学家提出的关于模式参数扰动的条件非线性最优参数扰动（CNOP-P）方法,该方法可以用于寻找到对预报有最大影响的参数扰动,并可以进一步确定哪些参数最应该利用观测资料进行校准。另一方面,通过对比CNOP-I和CNOP-P对预报误差的影响,可以判断导致预报不确定性的主要误差因子,进而指导人们着力改进模式或者初始场。     

Nonlinear Atmospheric and Climate Dynamics in China （2003-2006）： A Review

Recent advances in the study of nonlinear atmospheric and climate dynamics in China （2003 2006） are briefly reviewed. Major achievements in the following eight areas are covered： nonlinear error dynamics and predictability; nonlinear analysis of observational data; eddy-forced envelope Rossby soliton theory; sensitivity and stability of the ocean＇s thermohaline circulation; nonlinear wave dynamics; nonlinear analysis on fluctuations in the atmospheric boundary layer; the basic structures of atmospheric motions; some applications of variational methods.     

Recent Advances in Predictability Studies in China （1999-2002）

Since the last International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) General Assembly (1999), the predictability studies in China have made further progress during the period of 1999-2002. Firstly, three predictability sub-problems in numerical weather and climate prediction are classified, which are concerned with the maximum predictability time, the maximum prediction error, and the maximum allowable initial error, and then they are reduced into three nonlinear optimization problems. Secondly, the concepts of the nonlinear singular vector (NSV) and conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) are proposed,which have been utilized to study the predictability of numerical weather and climate prediction. The results suggest that the nonlinear characteristics of the motions of atmosphere and oceans can be revealedby NSV and CNOP. Thirdly, attention has also been paid to the relations between the predictability and spatial-temporal scale, and between the model predictability and the machine precision, of which the investigations disclose the importance of the spatial-temporal scale and machine precision in the study of predictability. Also the cell-to-cell mapping is adopted to analyze globally the predictability of climate,which could provide a new subject to the research workers. Furthermore, the predictability of the summer rainfall in China is investigated by using the method of correlation coefficients. The results demonstrate that the predictability of summer rainfall is different in different areas of China. Analysis of variance, which is one of the statistical methods applicable to the study of predictability, is also used to study the potential predictability of monthly mean temperature in China, of which the conclusion is that the monthly mean temperature over China is potentially predictable at a statistical significance level of 0.10. In addition,in the analysis of the predictability of the T106 objective analysis/forecasting field, the variance and the correlation coefficient are calculated to explore the distribution characteristics of the mean-square errors.Finally, the predictability of short-term climate prediction is investigated by using statistical methods or numerical simulation methods. It is demonstrated that the predictability of short-term climate in China depends not only on the region of China being investigated, but also on the time scale and the atmospheric internal dynamical process.     

Progress in Predictability Studies in China （2003-2006）

Since the last International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics General Assembly(2003),predictability studies in China have made significant progress.For dynamic forecasts,two novel approaches of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation and nonlinear local Lyapunov exponents were proposed to cope with the predictability problems of weather and climate,which are superior to the corresponding linear theory.A possible mechanism for the"spring predictability barrier"phenomenon for the El Ni(?)o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)was provided based on a theoretical model.To improve the forecast skill of an intermediate coupled ENSO model,a new initialization scheme was developed,and its applicability was illustrated by hindcast experiments.Using the reconstruction phase space theory and the spatio-temporal series predictive method, Chinese scientists also proposed a new approach to improve dynamical extended range(monthly)prediction and successfully applied it to the monthly-scale predictability of short-term climate variations.In statistical forecasts,it was found that the effects of sea surface temperature on precipitation in China have obvious spatial and temporal distribution features,and that summer precipitation patterns over east China are closely related to the northern atmospheric circulation.For ensemble forecasts,a new initial perturbation method was used to forecast heavy rain in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces on 8 June 1998.Additionally, the ensemble forecast approach was also used for the prediction of a tropical typhoons.A new downscaling model consisting of dynamical and statistical methods was provided to improve the prediction of the monthly mean precipitation.This new downsealing model showed a relatively higher score than the issued operational forecast.     

Review and Development on the Studies of Chinese Meteorological Satellite and Satellite Meteorology

Meteorological satellite and satellite meteorology are the fastest developing new branches in the atmospheric sciences. Today the meteorological satellite has become a key element in the global atmospheric sounding system while the satellite meteorology is covering the main components of earth's system science. This article describes the major achievements that China has made in these fields in the past 30 years. The following contents are involved: (1) History and present status of China's meteorological satellites. It covers the development, launch, operation, technical parameters of China's polar and geostationary meteorological satellites. (2) Major achievements on remote sensing principle and method. It describes the retrieval of atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles, cloud character retrieval, aerosol character retrieval, precipitation retrieval as well as the generation of cloud wind. (3) Achievement on the studies of meteorological satellite data application. This part covers the applications of meteorological satellite data to weather analysis and forecast, numerical forecast, climate monitoring, and prediction of short-term climate change. Besides, the new results on data assimilation, climate monitoring, and forecast are also included.     

Influence of the Arctic on the Predictability of Eurasian Winter Extreme Weather Events

The linkage between the Arctic and midlatitudes has received much attention recently due to the rapidly changing climate.Many investigations have been conducted to reveal the relationship between the Arctic and Eurasian extreme events from the perspective of climatological statistics.As a prediction source for extreme events in Eurasia,Arctic conditions are crucial for extreme event predictions.Therefore,it is urgent to explore the Arctic influence on the predictability of Eurasian extreme events due to the large uncertainties in Arctic conditions.Considering the sensitivity and nonlinearity of the atmospheric circulations in midlatitude to Arctic conditions,it is necessary to investigate the Arctic influences on Eurasian extreme weather events in case studies at weather time scales.Previous studies indicate that only perturbations in specific patterns have fast growth.Thus,the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation approach is recommended for exploring the uncertainties in Arctic initial and boundary conditions and their synergistic effect on Eurasian extreme events.Moreover,the mechanism for extreme event formation may differ in different cases.Therefore,more extreme cases should be investigated to reach robust conclusions.     

近二十年来暴雨和强对流可预报性研究进展

大气可预报性研究是开展天气、气候预测的基础科学问题。全球变暖背景下,近年暴雨和强对流等中小尺度灾害性天气频发,如何深入认识其可预报性问题成为了天气领域研究热点,也是制约数值天气预报模式能力提升的重要因素。本文在简要回顾国内外大气可预报性研究历程的基础上,重点对近二十年（1999～2018）国际上关于暴雨和强对流可预报性方面的最新研究进展进行了系统的综述和归纳。主要包括:中小尺度可预报性研究的主要方法和评估手段及其与传统大尺度天气可预报性研究的差异,初始误差增长机制的几种主要观点及其争论（误差升尺度、误差降尺度、升降尺度并存）,数值模式误差和对流环境误差对实际预报性的影响,以及最近的中尺度可预报性科学观测试验进展等。最后,对暴雨、强对流可预报性研究存在的问题、未来发展方向进行了简要的讨论和展望。     

集合敏感性在预报误差及可预报性研究中的应用进展综述

研究大气的可预报性和预报误差产生的原因,对于改进数值预报,提升业务预报技巧具有重要意义。集合敏感性基于具有流依赖特性的集合预报,通过建立预报与初始场或前期预报大气状态之间的统计关系,为揭示与预报对象可预报性相关的动力学特征及理解预报误差来源和传播机制提供了一种新方法。同时,介绍了集合敏感性的定义和度量,并综述了其针对典型天气系统和高影响天气事件研究的进展,并讨论了该方法的优势和局限性。     

平流层大气动力学及其与对流层大气相互作用的研究:进展与问题

本文综述了近年来关于平流层大气动力学及其与对流层大气相互作用动力过程的研究进展,特别是回顾了近年来关于平流层大气环流和行星波动力学、热带平流层大气波动及其与基本气流相互作用、平流层大气环流变异对对流层环流和气候变异的影响及其动力过程、平流层大气数值模拟以及在全球变暖背景下平流层大气的长期演变趋势预估等的研究进展。最近的研究揭示了大气准定常行星波传播波导的振荡现象、重力波在热带平流层准两年振荡和全球物质输送中的作用、平流层长期的变冷趋势变化、平流层在对流层天气和气候变化中的作用等现象,表明了平流层大气动力学研究的重要性。平流层大气动力学的深入研究,以及对数值模式中平流层模拟性能的提高,最终都会推动整个大气科学和气候变化研究的进一步发展。     

Applications of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation in predictability study and sensitivity analysis of weather and climate

Considering the limitation of the linear theory of singular vector (SV), the authors and their collaborators proposed conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) and then applied it in the predictability study and the sensitivity analysis of weather and climate system. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chinese National Committee for World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), this paper is devoted to reviewing the main results of these studies. First, CNOP represents the initial perturbation that has largest nonlinear evolution at prediction time, which is different from linear singular vector (LSV) for the large magnitude of initial perturbation or/and the long optimization time interval. Second, CNOP, rather than linear singular vector (LSV), represents the initial anomaly that evolves into ENSO events most probably. It is also the CNOP that induces the most prominent seasonal variation of error growth for ENSO predictability; furthermore, CNOP was applied to investigate the decadal variability of ENSO asymmetry. It is demonstrated that the changing nonlinearity causes the change of ENSO asymmetry. Third, in the studies of the sensitivity and stability of ocean’s thermohaline circulation (THC), the nonlinear asymmetric response of THC to finite amplitude of initial perturbations was revealed by CNOP. Through this approach the passive mechanism of decadal variation of THC was demonstrated; Also the authors studies the instability and sensitivity analysis of grassland ecosystem by using CNOP and show the mechanism of the transitions between the grassland and desert states. Finally, a detailed discussion on the results obtained by CNOP suggests the applicability of CNOP in predictability studies and sensitivity analysis.     

10~30 d延伸期可预报性与预报方法研究进展

10~30 d延伸期的可预报性既依赖于初始条件,也与缓变的下垫面有关,寻找延伸期时段内可预报性较高的低频特征,识别延伸期的可预报性来源及影响的物理机制是提高延伸期预报水平的关键。近年延伸期可预报性来源、热带大气季节内振荡监测预测和影响等领域的研究取得较大进展,提出和应用了动力统计相结合以及大气低频信号释用等新的延伸期预报方法。对延伸期可预报性来源及其与初值和外强迫异常的关系分析表明,海气相互作用能提高亚洲和西太平洋区域延伸期时段大气环流和要素的可预报性。热带大气季节内振荡、平流层爆发性增温以及各种次季节尺度的海气、陆气耦合作用和大气响应均为延伸期预报提供了重要的可预报性来源。由于数值模式延伸期时段的预报性能与实际业务需求还存在一定距离,基于动力统计相结合和物理统计的延伸期预报方法被广泛应用于业务预报,表现出一定的预报技巧。     

A New Strategy for Solving a Class of Constrained Nonlinear Optimization Problems Related to Weather and Climate Predictability

There are three common types of predictability problems in weather and climate, which each involve different constrained nonlinear optimization problems: the lower bound of maximum predictable time, the upper bound of maximum prediction error, and the lower bound of maximum allowable initial error and parameter error. Highly efficient algorithms have been developed to solve the second optimization problem. And this optimization problem can be used in realistic models for weather and climate to study the upper bound of the maximum prediction error. Although a filtering strategy has been adopted to solve the other two problems, direct solutions are very time-consuming even for a very simple model, which therefore limits the applicability of these two predictability problems in realistic models. In this paper, a new strategy is designed to solve these problems, involving the use of the existing highly efficient algorithms for the second predictability problem in particular. Furthermore, a series of comparisons between the older filtering strategy and the new method are performed. It is demonstrated that the new strategy not only outputs the same results as the old one, but is also more computationally efficient. This would suggest that it is possible to study the predictability problems associated with these two nonlinear optimization problems in realistic forecast models of weather or climate.     

地形强迫正压大气异常持续类型的确定及其对可预报性的影响

使用地形强迫正压涡度方程模式的输出资料，讨论了流函数异常EOF展开时间系数的特征时间尺度。由此研究了异常持续类型的确定及其对可预报性的影响问题。结果表明:异常持续类型与环流的演变有十分密切的关系，初始状态环流的结构对可预报性有明显的影响。最后探讨了对中期和延伸期数值预报的可能应用。     

气候变化对延伸期预报的影响

10～30 d时效的延伸期预报,作为无缝隙预报预测体系中至关重要的一环,连接着天气预报和短期气候预测。受不断加剧的气候变化的影响,延伸期预报将面临更为重大的挑战。首先概述国内外延伸期预报现状,然后分析了全球气候变化对极端天气气候事件分布特征、关键环流系统可预报性等方面的影响,发现气候变化将导致延伸期预报难度加大、需求更加旺盛,同时也更加突显延伸期预报在防灾减灾方面的作用。进一步展望延伸期预报将面临的新挑战以及未来业务发展的新动向,提出了适应气候变化的应对措施和建议,如大力发展数值预报模式、深入开展延伸期预报机理研究、大力发展动力—统计相结合的预报方法以及尝试多学科交叉协作等。     

中国极端天气气候研究——“地球系统与全球变化”重点专项项目简介及最新进展

全球变暖背景下,极端天气气候事件频发,并表现出群发性、持续性、复合性等特点,不可预测性增加;持续性强降水、极端低温、复合型极端高温干旱、群发性热浪和台风等极端天气气候事件对我国经济社会和可持续发展影响巨大。然而,上述极端天气气候事件的新特征、关键过程和机理尚不完全清楚,重大极端事件的预报预测水平亟待提升。文章首先简要介绍“地球系统与全球变化”重点专项项目“中国极端天气气候事件的形成机理及其预测和归因”的基本情况。项目拟在分析全球变化背景下对我国造成重大影响的极端天气气候事件新特征的基础上,深入研究多尺度海-陆-气耦合过程影响极端天气气候事件的机理,挖掘极端天气气候事件次季节-季节预测的前兆信号;发展动力与物理统计相结合的极端事件预测新方法,研制针对中国极端事件的新一代高分辨率数值预报与检测归因系统。文章重点总结了自2022年12月项目立项至今取得的最新研究成果和进展。     

天气可预报性的时空分布

为了能从非线件误差增长动力学的角度研究大气的可预报性问题,文章引入了可预报性研究的新方法--非线性局部Lyapunov指数.非线性局部Lyapunov指数及其相关统计量能够被用来定量地确定混沌系统可预报性的大小,真正地实现对可预报性的定量化研究.为了把非线性局部Lyapunov指数方法应用到实际的大气可预报性研究中,给出了一种利用大气的实际观测资料估计非线性局部Lyapunov指数的计算方法.存非线性局部Lyapunov指数方法的基础上,文中利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,对大气位势高度场、温度场、纬向风场、经向风场等要素场可预报性的时空分布进行了研究,结果表明:(1)在500 hPa高度层上,对于不同的要素场,其可预报期限的大小以及时空分布规律都不一样;全球大部分地区位势高度场可预报期限最大,温度场和纬向风场次之,而经向风场的可预报期限最小.(2)在500 hPa高度层七,位势高度场和温度场的纬向平均可预报期限基本上表现为一定的南北纬向带状分布,热带地区和南极地区的可预报期限最大,北极地区次之,南北半球中高纬度地区可预报期限相对较小.纬向风场可预报期限在热带地区最高,但是南北极地区可预报期限与邻近的中高纬度地区差别不大.经向风场可预报期限在南北两极地区最高,南北半球的中纬度和赤道附近地区可预报期限最小.(3)在垂直方向上,纬向平均高度场、温度场以及纬向风场可预报期限基本上都是随高度升高而增加,高层的可预报期限明显大于低层;经向风场可预报期限随高度的变化比较复杂,不同的纬度有所不同.(4)可预报性有明显的季节变化,不同要素场可预报期限高低值区的位置和强度随季节鄙有明显变化,对于全球大部分地区来说,冬季可预报性都大于夏季的.     

AOGS第六届学术年会气象学研究报告综述

简要综述了第六届亚洲大洋洲地球科学学会（AOGS）学术年会有关天气和气候的可预报性、协同亚洲季风试验、季风变化及其模拟与预测、气候变化与热带气候灾害、中层大气研究、中尺度气象学与台风研究以及卫星资料应用等方面的报告内容。在全球气候变化的大背景下,季风的年代际变化特征,可能成因及其对天气气候的影响是目前研究的热点问题之一。对亚洲季风系统形成机制的探讨及其与气候系统关系的研究有助于提高数值模式对季风系统的模拟能力,从而能够更好地预测季风系统及其演变。集合预报,特别是多模式超级集合预报方法引起了人们广泛的兴趣。研究报告指出,多个积云对流参数化方案的集成、集合卡曼滤波、条件非线性最优扰动法以及滑动训练期超级集合预报技术对数值天气预报的准确率都有明显改善。＂可预报性障碍＂在数值模式对大气环流的预报中同样存在。＂可预报性障碍＂本质上反映了系统的季节变化对预报结果的影响。研究还表明,热带气旋频率和强度的变化取决于在其形成的海域是动力因子还是热力因子起主导作用,如热力因子起主导作用则气候变暖会使该区域的热带气旋活动频率和强度增加。一些研究指出,中高纬度阻塞形势持续异常及南海的热源异常可能是造成2008年初中国南方低温、雨雪和冰冻灾害的主要原因。Formosat-2和Formosat-3等卫星观测资料的广泛应用将极大地提高数值天气预报、气候监测和空间天气预报水平。     

Reducing the prediction uncertainties of high-impact weather and climate events: An overview of studies at LASG

This paper summarizes recent progress at the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in studies on targeted observations, data assimilation, and ensemble prediction, which are three effective strategies to reduce the prediction uncertainties and improve the forecast skill of weather and climate events. Considering the limitations of traditional targeted observation approaches, LASG researchers have developed a conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation-based targeted observation strategy to optimize the design of the observing network. This strategy has been employed to identify sensitive areas for targeted observations of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean dipole, and tropical cyclones, and has been demonstrated to be effective in improving the forecast skill of these events. To assimilate the targeted observations into the initial state of a numerical model, a dimension-reducedprojection- based four-dimensional variational data assimilation (DRP-4DVar) approach has been proposed and is used operationally to supply accurate initial conditions in numerical forecasts. The performance of DRP-4DVar is good, and its computational cost is much lower than the standard 4DVar approach. Besides, ensemble prediction, which is a practical approach to generate probabilistic forecasts of the future state of a particular system, can be used to reduce the prediction uncertainties of single forecasts by taking the ensemble mean of forecast members. In this field, LASG researchers have proposed an ensemble forecast method that uses nonlinear local Lyapunov vectors (NLLVs) to yield ensemble initial perturbations. Its application in simple models has shown that NLLVs are more useful than bred vectors and singular vectors in improving the skill of the ensemble forecast. Therefore, NLLVs represent a candidate for possible development as an ensemble method in operational forecasts. Despite the considerable efforts made towards developing these methods to reduce prediction uncertainties, much challenging but highly important work remains in terms of improving the methods to further increase the skill in forecasting such weather and climate events.     

A Review of Climate Change Attribution Studies

This paper reviews recent progress in climate change attribution studies. The focus is on the attribution of observed long-term changes in surface temperature, precipitation, circulation, and extremes, as well as that of specific extreme weather and climate events. Based on new methods and better models and observations, the latest studies further verify the conclusions on climate change attribution in the IPCC AR5, and enrich the evidence for anthropogenic influences on weather and climate variables and extremes. The uncertainty of global temperature change attributable to anthropogenic forcings lies in the considerable uncertainty of estimated total radiative forcing due to aerosols, while the uncertainty of precipitation change attribution arises from the limitations of observation and model simulations along with influences from large internal variability. In terms of extreme weather and climate events, it is clear that attribution studies have provided important new insights into the changes in the intensity or frequency of some of these events caused by anthropogenic climate change. The framing of the research question, the methods selected, and the model and statistical methods used all have influences on the results and conclusions drawn in an event attribution study. Overall, attribution studies in China remain inadequate because of limited research focus and the complexity of the monsoon climate in East Asia. Attribution research in China has focused mainly on changes or events related to temperature, such as the attribution of changes in mean and extreme temperature and individual heat wave events. Some progress has also been made regarding the pattern of changes in precipitation and individual extreme rainfall events in China. Nonetheless, gaps remain with respect to the attribution of changes in extreme precipitation, circulation, and drought, as well as to the event attribution such as those related to drought and tropical cyclones. It can be expected that, with the continual development of climate models, ongoing improvements to data, and the introduction of new methods in the future, climate change attribution research will develop accordingly. Additionally, further improvement in climate change attribution will facilitate the development of operational attribution systems for extreme events, as well as attribution studies of climate change impacts.