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.     

Assimilation of Doppler Radar Data with an Ensemble 3DEnVar Approach to Improve Convective Forecasting

An ensemble three-dimensional ensemble-variational(3DEnVar)data assimilation(E3DA)system was developed within the Weather Research and Forecasting model’s 3DVar framework to assimilate radar data to improve convective forecasting.In this system,ensemble perturbations are updated by an ensemble of 3DEnVar and the ensemble forecasts are used to generate the flow-dependent background error covariance.The performance of the E3DA system was first evaluated against one experiment without radar DA and one radar DA experiment with 3DVar,using a severe storm case over southeastern China on 5 June 2009.Results indicated that E3DA improved the quantitative forecast skills of reflectivity and precipitation,as well as their spatial distributions in terms of both intensity and coverage over 3DVar.The root-mean-square error of radial velocity from 3DVar was reduced by E3DA,with stronger low-level wind closer to observation.It was also found that E3DA improved the wind,temperature and water vapor mixing ratio,with the lowest errors at the surface and upper levels.3DVar showed moderate improvements in comparison with forecasts without radar DA.A diagnosis of the analysis revealed that E3DA increased vertical velocity,temperature,and humidity corresponding to the added reflectivity,while 3DVar failed to produce these adjustments,because of the lack of reasonable cross-variable correlations.The performance of E3DA was further verified using two convective cases over southern and southeastern China,and the reflectivity forecast skill was also improved over 3DVar.     

华南暴雨区域集合预报中不同同化方案的影响试验研究

基于全球集合预报系统(GEFS)资料,利用WRF中尺度模式及GEFS动力降尺度获取区域集合预报初值场,通过对同化后的分析场进行模式积分实现华南前汛期区域集合预报。对2019年6月10日的一次华南前汛期暴雨过程进行不同同化方案的试验:混合同化(Hybrid)、三维变分(3Dvar)、集合卡尔曼滤波(EnKF)和对比试验(Ctrl)四组试验的对比分析,探讨具有不同背景误差协方差矩阵的同化方案对区域集合预报集合扰动和集合离散随时间演变特征的影响,评估不同试验的降水模拟效果。(1) Hybrid对模式初始场有较好的改善作用,而3DVar和EnKF对初始场的改善作用不明显。(2) 对风场、温度场和湿度场,在前期预报中Hybrid的预报误差小于3DVar和EnKF,在中后期的预报中,3DVar和EnKF的预报误差得到改善,且好于Hybrid。同样,集合扰动能量,Hybrid和Ctrl在前期预报发展好于3DVar和EnKF,而在中后期的预报3DVar和EnKF好于Hybrid和Ctrl。(3) 从24 h累积降水评分中,整体上同化试验好于Ctrl,3DVar和EnKF好于Hybrid,且3DVar对大中雨级别的降水评分较好,而EnKF对暴雨以上级别的降水评分较好。(4) 对于集合统计检验分析,同化试验的AUC值都大于Ctrl的AUC值,24 h累积降水量阈值在10~100 mm的AUC值,3DVar最好;而125 mm阈值的AUC值,EnKF最好。      

The Korean Integrated Model (KIM) System for Global Weather Forecasting

The Korea Institute of Atmospheric Prediction Systems (KIAPS) began a national project to develop a new global atmospheric model system in 2011. The ultimate goal of this 9-year project is to replace the current operational model at the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), which was adopted from the United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office’s unified model (UM) in 2010. The 12-km Korean Integrated Model (KIM) system, consisting of a spectral-element non-hydrostatic dynamical core on a cubed sphere grid and a state-of-the-art physics parameterization package, has been launched in a real-time forecast framework, with initial conditions obtained via the advanced hybrid four-dimensional ensemble variational data assimilation (4DEnVar) over its native grid. A development strategy for KIM and the evolution of its performance in medium-range forecasts toward a world-class global forecast system are described. Outstanding issues in KIM 3.1 as of February 2018 are discussed, along with a future plan for operational deployment in 2020.     

ASSIMILATION OF REAL OBSERVATIONAL DATA WITH THE GSI-HYBRID DATA ASSIMILATION SYSTEM TO IMPROVE TYPHOON FORECAST

A hybrid GSI (Grid-point Statistical Interpolation)-ETKF (Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter) data assimilation system has been recently developed for the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model and tested with simulated observations for tropical cyclone (TC) forecast. This system is based on the existing GSI but with ensemble background information incorporated. As a follow-up, this work extends the new system to assimilate real observations to further understand the hybrid scheme. As a first effort to explore the system with real observations, relatively coarse grid resolution (27 km) is used. A case study of typhoon Muifa (2011) is performed to assimilate real observations including conventional in-situ and satellite data. The hybrid system with flow-dependent ensemble covariance shows significant improvements with respect to track forecast compared to the standard GSI system which in theory is three dimensional variational analysis (3DVAR). By comparing the analyses, analysis increments and forecasts, the hybrid system is found to be potentially able to recognize the existence of TC vortex, adjust its position systematically, better describe the asymmetric structure of typhoon Muifa and maintain the dynamic and thermodynamic balance in typhoon initial field. In addition, a cold-start hybrid approach by using the global ensembles to provide flow-dependent error is tested and similar results are revealed with those from cycled GSI-ETKF approach.     

System of Multigrid Nonlinear Least-squares Four-dimensional Variational Data Assimilation for Numerical Weather Prediction (SNAP): System Formulation and Preliminary Evaluation

A new forecasting system—the System of Multigrid Nonlinear Least-squares Four-dimensional Variational (NLS-4DVar) Data Assimilation for Numerical Weather Prediction (SNAP)—was established by building upon the multigrid NLS-4DVar data assimilation scheme, the operational Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI)?based data-processing and observation operators, and the widely used Weather Research and Forecasting numerical model. Drawing upon lessons learned from the superiority of the operational GSI analysis system, for its various observation operators and the ability to assimilate multiple-source observations, SNAP adopts GSI-based data-processing and observation operator modules to compute the observation innovations. The multigrid NLS-4DVar assimilation framework is used for the analysis, which can adequately correct errors from large to small scales and accelerate iteration solutions. The analysis variables are model state variables, rather than the control variables adopted in the conventional 4DVar system. Currently, we have achieved the assimilation of conventional observations, and we will continue to improve the assimilation of radar and satellite observations in the future. SNAP was evaluated by case evaluation experiments and one-week cycling assimilation experiments. In the case evaluation experiments, two six-hour time windows were established for assimilation experiments and precipitation forecasts were verified against hourly precipitation observations from more than 2400 national observation sites. This showed that SNAP can absorb observations and improve the initial field, thereby improving the precipitation forecast. In the one-week cycling assimilation experiments, six-hourly assimilation cycles were run in one week. SNAP produced slightly lower forecast RMSEs than the GSI 4DEnVar (Four-dimensional Ensemble Variational) as a whole and the threat scores of precipitation forecasts initialized from the analysis of SNAP were higher than those obtained from the analysis of GSI 4DEnVar.     

Evaluation of a Regional Ensemble Data Assimilation System for Typhoon Prediction

An ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) combined with the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) is cycled and evaluated for western North Pacific (WNP) typhoons of year 2016. Conventional in situ data, radiance observations, and tropical cyclone (TC) minimum sea level pressure (SLP) are assimilated every 6 h using an 80-member ensemble. For all TC categories, the 6-h ensemble priors from the WRF/EnKF system have an appropriate amount of variance for TC tracks but have insufficient variance for TC intensity. The 6-h ensemble priors from the WRF/EnKF system tend to overestimate the intensity for weak storms but underestimate the intensity for strong storms. The 5-d deterministic forecasts launched from the ensemble mean analyses of WRF/EnKF are compared to the NCEP and ECMWF operational control forecasts. Results show that the WRF/EnKF forecasts generally have larger track errors than the NCEP and ECMWF forecasts for all TC categories because the regional simulation cannot represent the large-scale environment better than the global simulation. The WRF/EnKF forecasts produce smaller intensity errors and biases than the NCEP and ECMWF forecasts for typhoons, but the opposite is true for tropical storms and severe tropical storms. The 5-d ensemble forecasts from the WRF/EnKF system for seven typhoon cases show appropriate variance for TC track and intensity with short forecast lead times but have insufficient spread with long forecast lead times. The WRF/EnKF system provides better ensemble forecasts and higher predictability for TC intensity than the NCEP and ECMWF ensemble forecasts.     

两种样本生成方法对DRP-4DVar同化方法性能影响的比较及分析

降维投影四维变分同化方法(DRP-4DVar)利用历史预报的集合来统计背景误差协方差,并将分析变量投影到样本空间下求解代价函数,因而集合样本的质量对DRP-4DVar同化方法的性能有着重要影响.文中尝试使用三维变分(3DVar)控制变量的扰动方法来产生集合样本,并与原来的历史预报扰动方法做比较.历史预报扰动样本具有随流...     

GRAPES Hybrid-3DVar对台风苏迪罗的数值试验

为了把反映天气形势变化的背景误差协方差引入到变分分析系统中来提高分析质量,本文在GRAPES区域三维变分框架的基础上通过扩展控制变量方法实现动态与静态背景误差协方差耦合,建立混合三维变分分析系统（GRAPES Hybrid-3DVar）。通过控制变量扰动产生的集合样本进行单点观测分析试验验证Hybrid-3DVar及其局地化方案的合理性,并针对台风苏迪罗进行实际观测资料同化和数值预报试验,结果表明:用集合样本描述的背景误差协方差是随着天气流型变化的,动力场和质量场的离散度在台风中心处最大,因而混合同化的分析增量包含更多细微结构和中小尺度信息;其分析和24 h内预报要素质量优于3DVar,24 h内降水强度和落区预报也更准确,混合同化分析改善了3DVar分析的降水空报问题;同时混合同化分析的24 h内台风路径预报也最接近实况,台风强度预报在48 h之内都比3DVar更接近观测。     

Development of an Operational Hybrid Data Assimilation System at KIAPS

This study introduces the operational data assimilation (DA) system at the Korea Institute of Atmospheric Prediction Systems (KIAPS) to the numerical weather prediction community. Its development history and performance are addressed with experimental illustrations and the authors’ previously published studies. Milestones in skill improvements include the initial operational implementation of three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVar), the ingestion of additional satellite observations, and changing the DA scheme to a hybrid four-dimensional ensemble-variational DA using forecasts from an ensemble based on the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF). In the hybrid system, determining the relative contribution of the ensemble-based covariance to the resultant analysis is crucial, particularly for moisture variables including a variety of horizontal scale spectra. Modifications to the humidity control variable, partial rather than full recentering of the ensemble for humidity further improves moisture analysis, and the inclusion of more radiance observations with higher-level peaking channels have significant impacts on stratosphere temperature and wind performance. Recent update of the operational hybrid DA system relative to the previous 3DVar system is described for detailed improvements with interpretation.     

Assimilation of Hourly Surface Observations with the Canadian High-Resolution Ensemble Kalman Filter

An hourly-cycling ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) working at 2.5?km horizontal grid spacing is implemented over southern Ontario (Canada) to assimilate Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs) in addition to the observations assimilated operationally at the Canadian Meteorological Centre. This high-resolution EnKF (HREnKF) system employs ensemble land analyses and perturbed roughness length to prevent an ensemble spread that is too small near the surface. The HREnKF then performs continuously for a four-day period, from which twelve-hour ensemble forecasts are launched every six hours. The impact on analyses and short-term forecasts of assimilating METAR data is given special attention.

It is shown that using ensemble land surface analyses increases near-surface ensemble spreads for temperature and specific humidity. Perturbing roughness length enlarges the spread for surface wind. Given sufficient ensemble spread, the four-day case study shows that the near-surface model state is brought closer to surface observations during the cycling process. The impact of assimilating surface data can also be seen at higher levels by using aircraft reports for verification. The ensemble forecast verification suggests that METAR data assimilation improves ensemble forecasts of air temperature and dewpoint near the surface up to a lead time of six hours or even longer. However, only minor improvement is found in surface wind forecasts.     

The Structure of Background-error Covariance in a Four-dimensional Variational Data Assimilation System: Single-point Experiment

A four dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVar) based on a dimension-reduced projection (DRP-4DVar) has been developed as a hybrid of the 4DVar and Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) concepts. Its good flow-dependent features are demonstrated in single-point experiments through comparisons with adjoint-based 4DVar and three-dimensional variational data (3DVar) assimilations using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5). The results reveal that DRP-4DVar can reasonably generate a background error covariance matrix (simply B-matrix) during the assimilation window from an initial estimation using a number of initial condition dependent historical forecast samples. In contrast, flow-dependence in the B-matrix of MM5 4DVar is barely detectable. It is argued that use of diagonal estimation in the B-matrix of the MM5 4DVar method at the initial time leads to this failure. The experiments also show that the increments produced by DRP-4DVar are anisotropic and no longer symmetric with respect to observation location due to the effects of the weather trends captured in its B-matrix. This differs from the MM5 3DVar which does not consider the influence of heterogeneous forcing on the correlation structure of the B-matrix, a condition that is realistic for many situations. Thus, the MM5 3DVar assimilation could only present an isotropic and homogeneous structure in its increments.     

混合误差协方差用于集合平方根滤波同化的试验

在集合卡尔曼滤波方法中, 根据预报集合统计提供的依流型而变的预报误差协方差对同化起到决定性的作用。但在集合样本容量不足及模式存在系统误差时, 由预报集合估计的预报误差协方差会出现明显偏差。既要减小这种估计偏差对同化产生的影响而又不增加计算量, 一种可供选择的方法是将定常或准定常的高斯型预报误差协方差和由预报集合估计的预报误差协方差加权平均用于集合卡尔曼滤波同化。利用浅水方程模式, 通过观测系统模拟试验检验在不同的模式误差、 集合成员数以及观测密度条件下, 将这种混合预报误差协方差矩阵用于在集合平方根滤波的效果。试验结果表明, 当预报集合成员数较多而模式又无误差时, 不必采用混合的预报误差协方差矩阵, 否则, 采用混合的预报误差协方差矩阵都有可能改进分析和预报。混合预报误差协方差的最优的权重系数与模式误差关系密切, 模式误差越大, 定常预报误差协方差的权重越大。最优的权重系数与集合成员数及观测密度也有一定关系。     

Typhoon Track Forecast with a Hybrid GSI-ETKF Data Assimilation System

A hybrid grid-point statistical interpolation-ensemble transform Kalman filter (GSI-ETKF) data assimilation system for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was developed and applied to typhoon track forecast with simulated dropsonde observations. This hybrid system showed significantly improved results with respect to tropical cyclone track forecast compared to the standard GSI system in the case of Muifa in 2011. Further analyses revealed that the flow-dependent ensemble covariance was the major contributor to the better performance of the GSI-ETKF system than the standard GSI system; the GSI-ETKF system was found to be potentially able to adjust the position of the typhoon vortex systematically and better update the environmental field.     

Sensitivity of the DRP-4DVar Performance to Perturbation Samples Obtained by Two Different Methods

The dimension-reduced projection four-dimensional variational data assimilation (DRP-4DVar) approach utilizes the ensemble of historical forecasts to estimate the background error covariance (BEC) and directly obtains the analysis in the ensemble space.As a result,the quality of ensemble members significantly affects the DRP-4DVar performance.The historical-forecast-based initial perturbation samples are flow-dependent and can describe the error-growth pattern of the atmospheric model and the balanced relat...     

Assimilating Best Track Minimum Sea Level Pressure Data Together with Doppler Radar Data Using an Ensemble Kalman Filter for Hurricane Ike (2008) at a Cloud-Resolving Resolution

Extending an earlier study, the best track minimum sea level pressure (MSLP) data are assimilated for landfalling Hurricane Ike (2008) using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), in addition to data from two coastal ground-based Doppler radars, at a 4-km grid spacing. Treated as a sea level pressure observation, the MSLP assimilation by the EnKF enhances the hurricane warm core structure and results in a stronger and deeper analyzed vortex than that in the GFS (Global Forecast System) analysis; it also improves the subsequent 18-h hurricane intensity and track forecasts. With a 2-h total assimilation window length, the assimilation of MSLP data interpolated to 10-min intervals results in more balanced analyses with smaller subsequent forecast error growth and better intensity and track forecasts than when the data are assimilated every 60 minutes. Radar data are always assimilated at 10-min intervals. For both intensity and track forecasts, assimilating MSLP only outperforms assimilating radar reflectivity (Z) only. For intensity forecast, assimilating MSLP at 10-min intervals outperforms radar radial wind (Vr) data (assimilated at 10-min intervals), but assimilating MSLP at 60-min intervals fails to beat Vr data. For track forecast, MSLP assimilation has a slightly (noticeably) larger positive impact than Vr(Z) data. When Vr or Z is combined with MSLP, both intensity and track forecasts are improved more than the assimilation of individual observation type. When the total assimilation window length is reduced to 1h or less, the assimilation of MSLP alone even at 10-min intervals produces poorer 18-h intensity forecasts than assimilating Vr only, indicating that many assimilation cycles are needed to establish balanced analyses when MSLP data alone are assimilated; this is due to the very limited pieces of information that MSLP data provide.     

Assimilating AMSU-a radiance data with the WRF hybrid En3DVAR system for track predictions of Typhoon Megi (2010)

The impact of assimilating radiances from the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) on the track prediction of Typhoon Megi (2010) was studied using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and a hybrid ensemble three-dimensional variational (En3DVAR) data assimilation (DA) system. The influences of tuning the length scale and variance scale factors related to the static background error covariance (BEC) on the track forecast of the typhoon were studied. The results show that, in typhoon radiance data assimilation, a moderate length scale factor improves the prediction of the typhoon track. The assimilation of AMSU-A radiances using 3DVAR had a slight positive impact on track forecasts, even when the static BEC was carefully tuned to optimize its performance. When the hybrid DA was employed, the track forecast was significantly improved, especially for the sharp northward turn after crossing the Philippines, with the flow-dependent ensemble covariance. The flow-dependent BEC can be estimated by the hybrid DA and was capable of adjusting the position of the typhoon systematically. The impacts of the typhoon-specific BEC derived from ensemble forecasts were revealed by comparing the analysis increments and forecasts generated by the hybrid DA and 3DVAR. Additionally, for 24 h forecasts, the hybrid DA experiment with use of the full flow-dependent background error substantially outperformed 3DVAR in terms of the horizontal winds and temperature in the lower and mid-troposphere and for moisture at all levels.     

四维集合变分同化方法在华南冬季暴雨模拟中的应用

利用WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting）模式和基于本征正交分解的四维集合变分同化方法（POD-4DEnVar）,对2015年12月9日一次华南暴雨过程进行多普勒雷达资料同化试验,并与三维变分同化试验（WRF-3DVar）进行对比,讨论了POD-4DEnVar方法中局地化半径对模拟效果的敏感性。结果表明,比较不同化雷达资料的控制试验,WRF-3DVar和WRF-POD-4DEnVar试验的降水模拟结果得到明显改善,且WRF-POD-4DEnVar的降水强度更接近实况。两种同化方法通过改变不同的初始要素达到改进降水模拟效果的目的,3DVar方法通过调整初始风场,间接减弱暴雨发生的水汽条件,POD-4DEnVar方法则直接调整湿度场。在降水过程中,同化试验改变了冷空气活动和水汽通量辐合的模拟结果,从而改善降水的模拟效果。POD-4DEnVar方法对局地化半径比较敏感,随局地化半径增大,同化对风场和湿度场的影响范围扩大,当局地化半径取为200 km时,降水模拟的效果最好。      

一种控制变量循环扰动和多参数化方案的混合同化方法

敏感性试验表明集合变换卡尔曼滤波(Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter,ETKF)方法在混合(Hybrid)同化过程中易受观测资料数量变化的影响而产生较大程度的协方差震荡,从而可能导致系统不稳定。为设计一种简便、稳定的Hybrid同化系统,构建了一种基于物理控制变量扰动及多物理参数化方案的Hybrid同化及预报系统。本系统随着循环的进行,不断对Hybrid同化分析场进行控制变量扰动得到集合成员初始场,并且对各集合成员采用不同物理参数化方案以更合理地表征背景场的误差特征。连续10 d的循环同化及预报试验表明,本文同化方案效果明显优于三维变分方案,动力场的整体同化和预报效果与ETKF方案基本相当。本方案相比于ETKF方法不受观测波动影响,在没有经任何参数调试情况下,取得了良好同化和预报效果,为Hybrid同化的便捷运行提供了一种稳定可靠的手段。     

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.