Seasonal predictions based on two dynamical models

Abstract

Two dynamical models are used to perform a series of seasonal predictions. One model, referred to as GCM2, was designed as a general circulation model for climate studies, while the second one, SEF, was designed for numerical weather prediction. The seasonal predictions cover the 26‐year period 1969–1994. For each of the four seasons, ensembles of six forecasts are produced with each model, the six runs starting from initial conditions six hours apart. The sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly for the month prior to the start of the forecast is persisted through the three‐month prediction period, and added to a monthly‐varying climatological SST field.

The ensemble‐mean predictions for each of the models are verified independently, and the two ensembles are blended together in two different ways: as a simple average of the two models, denoted GCMSEF, and with weights statistically determined to minimize the mean‐square error (the Best Linear Unbiased Estimate (BLUE) method).

The GCMSEF winter and spring predictions show a Pacific/North American (PNA) response to a warm tropical SST anomaly. The temporal anomaly correlation between the zero‐lead GCMSEF mean‐seasonal predictions and observations of the 500‐hPa height field (Z₅₀₀) shows statistically significant forecast skill over parts of the PNA area for all seasons, but there is a notable seasonal variability in the distribution of the skill. The GCMSEF predictions are more skilful than those of either model in winter, and about as skilful as the better of the two models in the other seasons.

The zero‐lead surface air temperature GCMSEF forecasts over Canada are found to be skilful (a) over the west coast in all seasons except fall, (b) over most of Canada in summer, and (c) over Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec in the fall. In winter the skill of the BLUE forecasts is substantially better than that of the GCMSEF predictions, while for the other seasons the difference in skill is not statistically significant.

When the Z₅₀₀ forecasts are averaged over months two and three of the seasons (one‐month lead predictions), they show skill in winter over the north‐eastern Pacific, western Canada and eastern North America, a skill that comes from those years with strong SST anomalies of the El Niño/La Niña type. For the other seasons, predictions averaged over months two and three show little skill in Z₅₀₀ in the mid‐latitudes. In the tropics, predictive skill is found in Z₅₀₀ in all seasons when a strong SST anomaly of the El Niño/La Niña type is observed. In the absence of SST anomalies of this type, tropical forecast skill is still found over much of the tropics in months two and three of the northern hemisphere spring and summer, but not in winter and fall.     

Skill assessment of seasonal hindcasts from the Canadian historical forecast project

Abstract

The performance of seasonal hindcasts produced with four global atmospheric models in the second phase of the Canadian Historical Forecasting Project is evaluated. Deterministic and probabilistic forecast skill assessments are carried out using common verification measures. Several methods of combining multi‐model output to produce deterministic and probabilistic forecasts of near‐surface air temperature, 500 hPa geopotential height, and 700 hPa temperature for zero‐month and one‐month leads are considered. A variance‐based weighting modestly improves the skill of deterministic and probabilistic hindcasts in some cases. A parametric Gaussian probability estimator is superior to a non‐parametric count‐method estimator for producing multi‐model probability forecasts. Statistical adjustment is beneficial for deterministic and probabilistic hindcasts of near‐surface temperature over the ocean but not always over land. Skill improves with the number of different models used for a given total ensemble size. The four‐model ensemble is shown to be a reasonable multi‐model configuration.     

降尺度技术在月降水预报中的应用

着重介绍月动力延伸数值预报模拟技巧较高的大气环流在局域降水方面的降尺度（downscaling）应用。克服动力降尺度和统计降尺度技术的缺点，从动力与统计相结合的角度，给出月尺度大气环流与局地降水之间的关系，该联系有清楚的动力学背景和天气学意义。120个月的历史实况资料回报试验证明了该关系的合理性。T63/NCC月动力延伸形势场集合预报进行中国降水的降尺度应用亦取得了较好的结果。     

郑州市汛期FSFE02、FSFE03降水预报效果检验

利用2000－2001年6－9月份日本数值预报产品，郑州市降水实况资料及同期天气图，对日本数值预报产品在郑州市汛期天气预报中的应用效果进行了检验。结果表明；用FSFE02，FSFE03作郑州市24h汛期降水预报效果最好的是晴雨预报；各月预报能力有差异；空报率高于漏报率。在500hPa为偏南气流的条件下，该数值产品的预报效率较高；对于两层均为偏北气流及高层低槽中空西北气流的天气系统配置预报效率也较高；若中高层均为低槽，则预报效率最低。     

GRAPES_MESO中时间步长和空间分辨率对于预报效果的影响

基于GRAPES区域中尺度数值预报系统(GRAPES_MESO),针对700 hPa、500 hPa和200 hPa的位势高度场H,温度场T,风场纬向分量U,经向分量V和地面降水场,在给定的模式物理过程下,分别考察了时间步长和空间分辨率对于模式预报效果的影响。研究结果表明,空间分辨率(0.3°×0.3°)相同时,各变量在不同层次的预报几乎都存在最优时间步长使得预报技巧最高,初步说明最优时间步长理论在复杂的偏微分方程组中的适用性。随后,将空间分辨率为0.3°×0.3°时最优时间步长(240 s)的预报结果与当前业务中(空间分辨率为0.15°×0.15°、时间步长为90 s)的预报结果进行比较,发现前者的变量H、T、U、V和地面降水场的预报技巧均高于后者,表明并不是空间分辨率越高预报效果越好。     

2010年8月环流形势的多模式超级集合预报

利用多模式超级集合预报法,以欧洲中期天气预报中心、日本气象厅、德国气象局、中国气象局和中国空军气象中心共5个决定性7 d预报产品为集合成员,对2010年8月500 hPa高度场和850 hPa温度场分别进行固定训练期和滑动训练期超级集合预报。采用均方根误差和相关系数对超级集合预报、单一模式预报和简单集合平均预报进行对比检验,同时对各预报结果的均方根误差空间分布进行对比分析。结果表明:超级集合预报在所有预报结果中最佳,且滑动集合预报对8月后期时段预报要略好于固定集合预报,两者预报效果均好于参与集合预报的各模式,也好于集合平均预报。但随着预报时效的延长,集合平均预报的优势也随之提升。从预报结果均方根误差的空间分布可知,多模式超级集合预报相比于单一模式预报效果提高的区域,500 hPa位势高度场主要位于印度半岛、印度洋、青藏高原及以西地区,而850 hPa温度场则主要位于蒙古、青藏高原、中国新疆及以西地区。     

Predictability as a function of scale

Abstract

The forecast skill of the Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) operational global forecast/analysis system is assessed as a function of scale for the traditional forecast variable of 500‐hPa geopotential height using results from January 2002. These results are compared to an earlier analysis of forecasts from the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) which indicated unexpectedly enhanced skill at high wavenumbers (small scales) especially in the mean forecast component identified with local topographical structures. The global rms error for the CMC forecasts is dominated by the transient component compared to the mean and continues to grow with time during the six days of the forecast. Geographically the transient error grows most rapidly in middle and high latitude regions of large natural variability. The relative error behaves differently and grows most rapidly initially in tropical regions and is inferred to exhibit both climatological and flow‐dependent error growth.

In terms of spherical harmonic two‐dimensional wavenumber n, low wavenumber (large scale) 500‐hPa geopotential height structures are dominated by the mean component but beyond wavenumber 10 to 15 the transient component dominates and exhibits an approximately n–5 spectral slope consistent with a quasi‐two dimensional turbulence enstrophy cascading subrange. Error grows slowly for the large scales dominated by mean climatological structures but these are not of interest for daily weather forecasting. Transient error grows rapidly at small scales and penetrates toward larger scales with time in keeping with the expected predictability behaviour. An expression of the form f(n, τ) = 1 – e–^τ/^τp(n) is fitted to the growth of relative error as a function of wavenumber and forecast range and gives a scale dependent predictability timescale for the transient component that varies as τ_p ? n^?3/2, although the generality of the relationship is not known.

The mean component at intermediate/high wavenumbers exhibits an apparent region of enhanced skill in the CMC system apparently connected to the topography. The result supports the possibility that some small‐scale mean flow structures, although containing only a minor amount of variance, are maintained in the face of errors in other scales. The results do not support the level of enhanced skill found in an earlier analysis of ECMWF results suggesting them to be an artefact of the analysis/forecast system in use at the time.     

ECMWF产品在东亚中纬度地区预报精度检验

利用求预报场与实况场绝对误差和相关系数，对ECMWF资料进行预报精度检验，结果表明：500hPa高度，850hPa温度和相对湿度，海平面气压等4个物理量场预报较好；850hPa相对湿度预报比700hPa的误差小；东西风预报比南北风预报好；绝对误差值随预报时效延长而增大，相关系数则随预报时效延长而减小。     

T63月动力延伸预报产品的检验

采用NCEP／NCAR再分析资料和T63谱模式月动力延伸预报产品资料,对200、500hPa高度场及200hPa、700hPaU、V风场进行相关系数、距平、距平同号率、距平相关系数的分析,得出如下结论：月动力延伸预报产品对极涡、南亚高压、副热带高压预报能力较强,夏季副热带系统预报偏强,西风带系统预报偏弱;冬季西风带系统预报偏强,副热带系统预报偏弱。西风带和副热带系统的距平误差基本反映出影响我国年季气候变化主导系统的进退及预报误差。     

Assessment of probability multimodel seasonal forecast based on the APCC model data

The probability multimodel forecast system based on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Climate Center (APCC) model data is verified. The winter and summer seasonal mean fields T ₈₅₀ and precipitation seasonal totals are estimated. To combine the models into a multimodel ensemble, the probability forecast is calculated for each of single models first, and then these forecasts are combined using the total probability formula. It is shown that the multimodel forecast is considerably more skilful than the single-model forecasts. The forecast quality is higher in the tropics compared to the mid- and high latitudes. The multimodel ensemble temperature forecasts outperform the random and climate forecasts for Northern Eurasia in the above- and below-normal categories. Precipitation forecast is less successful. For winter, the combination of single-model ensembles provides the precipitation forecast skill exceeding that of the random forecast for both Northern Eurasia and European Russia.     

GRAPES-GEPS环流集合预报的分类释用方法研究与检验

集合预报在数值天气预报体系中具有重要地位，因此如何有效提取集合样本信息以提高集合预报技巧一直是一个重要课题。基于中国全球集合预报业务系统（GRAPES-GEPS）的500 hPa高度场集合资料开展对环流集合预报的分类释用方法研究，并对集合聚类预报结果进行了检验分析。通过在传统Ward聚类法中引入动态聚类的“手肘法”方案，发展了环流集合预报分类释用方法。针对该方法的个例分析表明，对于中国中东部地区环流集合预报的聚类释用方法能够有效地划分出最有可能发生的环流形势类型并提供发生概率。确定性预报综合检验结果显示，集合预报聚类结果中发生概率最高的集合大类相对于集合平均的预报技巧有明显提升，并随着预报时效的延长提升更明显。总体来看，通过集合预报的分类释用方法划分环流形势类型可以为天气预报提供参考依据，具有实际应用价值。      

Seasonal prediction of African precipitation with ECHAM4–T42 ensemble simulations using a multivariate MOS re-calibration scheme

A 15 member ensemble of 20th century simulations using the ECHAM4–T42 atmospheric GCM is utilized to investigate the potential predictability of interannual variations of seasonal rainfall over Africa. Common boundary conditions are the global sea surface temperatures (SST) and sea ice extent. A canonical correlation analysis (CCA) between observed and ensemble mean ECHAM4 precipitation over Africa is applied in order to identify the most predictable anomaly patterns of precipitation and the related SST anomalies. The CCA is then used to formulate a re-calibration approach similar to model output statistics (MOS) and to derive precipitation forecasts over Africa. Predictand is the climate research unit (CRU) gridded precipitation over Africa. As predictor we use observed SST anomalies, ensemble mean precipitation over Africa and a combined vector of mean sea level pressure, streamfunction and velocity potential at 850 hPa. The different forecast approaches are compared. Most skill for African precipitation forecasts is provided by tropical Atlantic (Gulf of Guinea) SST anomalies which mainly affect rainfall over the Guinean coast and Sahel. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences southern and East Africa, however with a lower skill. Indian Ocean SST anomalies, partly independent from ENSO, have an impact particularly on East Africa. As suggested by the large agreement between the simulated and observed precipitation, the ECHAM4 rainfall provides a skillful predictor for CRU precipitation over Africa. However, MOS re-calibration is needed in order to provide skillful forecasts. Forecasts using MOS re-calibrated model precipitation are at least as skillful as forecast using dynamical variables from the model or instantaneous SST. In many cases, MOS re-calibrated precipitation forecasts provide more skill. However, differences are not systematic for all regions and seasons, and often small.     

T63月动力延伸预报产品的检验

采用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和T63谱模式月动力延伸预报产品资料,对200、500hPa高度场及200hPa、700hPaU、V风场进行相关系数、距平、距平同号率、距平相关系数的分析,得出如下结论:月动力延伸预报产品对极涡、南亚高压、副热带高压预报能力较强,夏季副热带系统预报偏强,西风带系统预报偏弱;冬季西风带系统预报偏强,副热带系统预报偏弱。西风带和副热带系统的距平误差基本反映出影响我国年季气候变化主导系统的进退及预报误差。      

季度预测研究回顾

对月平均大气环流预报试验、季度预测和中国汛期降水预测进行了总结。结果表明气候预测的对象必须是要素的时间平均场。利用数值模拟进行气候预测是今后的主要发展方向,而季度预测技巧的提高依赖于对物理参数化和物理机制的研究。最后,讨论了季平均气温和季总降水的可预报性问题,即时效性和准确率。     

Improved seasonal climate forecasts for the Caribbean region using the Florida State University Synthetic Superensemble

Summary Climate variations in the Caribbean, largely manifest in rainfall activity, have important consequences for the large-scale water budget, natural vegetation, and land use in the region. The wet and dry seasons will be defined, and the important roles played by the El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in modulating the rainfall during these seasons will be discussed. The seasonal climate forecasts in this paper are made by 13 state of the art coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (CGCMs) and by the Florida State University Synthetic Superensemble (FSUSSE), whose forecasts are obtained by a weighted combination of the individual CGCM forecasts based on a training period. The success of the models in simulating the observed 1989–2001 climatology of the various forecast parameters will be examined and linked to the models’ success in predicting the seasonal climate for individual years. Seasonal forecasts will be examined for precipitation, sea-surface temperature (SST), 2-meter air temperature, and 850 hPa u- and v-wind components during the period 1989–2001. Evaluation metrics include root mean square (RMS) error and Brier skill score. It will be shown that the FSUSSE is superior to the individual CGCMs and their ensemble mean both in simulating the 1989–2001 climatology for the various parameters and in predicting the seasonal climate of the various parameters for individual years. The seasonal climate forecasts of the FSUSSE and of the ensemble mean of the 13 state of the art CGCMs will be evaluated for years (during the period 1989–2001) that have particular ENSO and NAO signals that are known to influence Caribbean weather, particularly the rainfall. It will be shown that the FSUSSE provides superior forecasts of rainfall, SST, 2-meter air temperature, and 850 hPa u- and v-wind components during dry summers that are modulated by negative SOI and/or positive NAO indices. Such summers have become a feature of a twenty-year pattern of drought in the Caribbean region. The results presented in this paper will show that the FSUSSE is a valuable tool for forecasting rainfall and other atmospheric and oceanic variables during such periods of drought.     

T639模式预报系统误差统计和订正方法研究

通过统计2009—2010年T639模式500 hPa高度、850 hPa温度和2 m温度的1～10天预报场的平均误差发现,T639模式的这些气象要素预报都存在明显系统误差,且系统误差随着预报时效的增加而增加。利用＂递减平均法＂尝试订正其预报系统误差,订正结果表明：该订正方法总体表现为正的订正技巧,但订正能力随着预报时效的增加而下降;东亚地区的系统误差小于整个北半球,＂递减平均法＂的订正能力总体小于整个北半球。对比夏、冬半年订正效果发现：对于500 hPa位势高度和850 hPa温度的预报场,冬半年和夏半年订正技巧相当;对于地面2 m温度预报场,冬半年订正能力明显高于夏半年。不同权重系数试验表明：对于500 hPa高度场,权重系数约取0.06时,订正效果较好,而对于850 hPa和2 m温度场,权重系数约取0.1时,订正效果最佳。     

Constructing Site-Specific Climate Change Scenarios on a Monthly Scale Using Statistical Downscaling

Summary Monthly mean temperature and monthly precipitation totals in two small catchments in the Czech Republic are estimated from large-scale 500 hPa height and 1000/500 hPa thickness fields using statistical downscaling. The method used is multiple linear regression. Whereas precipitation can be determined from large-scale fields with some confidence in only a few months of the year, temperature can be determined successfully. Principal components calculated separately from the height and thickness anomalies are identified as the best predictor set. The method is most accurate if the regression is performed using seasons based on three months. The test on an independent sample, consisting of warm seasons, confirms that the method successfully reproduces the difference in mean temperature between two climatic states, which indicates that this downscaling method is applicable for constructing scenarios of a future climate change. The ECHAM3 GCM is used for scenario construction. The GCM is shown to simulate surface temperature and precipitation with low accuracy, whereas the large-scale atmospheric fields are reproduced well; this justifies the downscaling approach. The observed regression equations are applied to 2xCO₂ GCM output so that the model’s bias is eleminated. This procedure is then discussed and finally, temperature scenarios for the 2xCO₂ climate are constructed for the two catchments. Received December 3, 1998 Revised December 4, 1999     

月数值天气预报的试验研究

用中国科学院大气物理研究所二室的全球谱模式做了多个例子的月预报试验，结果表明，500 hPa月平均预报高度场不仅明显优于持续性预报，也优于气候预报。文章还就如何从逐日的瞬时动力预报中提取对月预报有用的信息进行了讨论，并指出，用加权平均代替通常使用的算术平均求得平均月预报显著地提高了预报效果。     

Verification of ceiling and visibility forecasts using the ranked probability score

Abstract

A terminal forecast verification scheme employing the ranked probability score (rps) has been developed. The forecast is interpreted in terms of probabilities of six operationally significant ceiling and visibility classes using probability interpretations of the terms vrbl, ocnl, RSK, etc. Comparison with the rps of climatological and persistence forecasts permits the assessment of forecast skill.

To illustrate the technique, five months of forecasts for Winnipeg International Airport have been examined. The subjective forecast shows skill over climatology for the first five hours of the forecast period. A persistence forecast shows skill over climatology for three hours into the period and is a little superior to the subjective forecast in the first hour.     

Skill of seasonal hindcasts as a function of the ensemble size

 Forecast skill as a function of the ensemble size is examined in a 24-member ensemble of northern winter (DJF) hindcasts produced with the second generation general circulation model of the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis. These integrations are initialized from the NCEP reanalyses at 6 h intervals prior to the forecast season. The sea surface temperatures that are applied as lower boundary conditions are predicted by persisting the monthly mean anomaly observed prior to the forecast period. The potential predictability that is attributed to lower boundary forced variability is estimated. In lagged-average forecasting, the forecast skill in the first two weeks, which originates predominately from the initial conditions, is greatest for relatively small ensemble sizes. The forecast skill increases monotonically with the ensemble size in the rest of the season. The skill of DJF 500 hPa geopotential height hindcasts in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Pacific/North America sector improves substantially when the ensemble size increases from 6 to 24. A statistical skill improvement technique based on the singular value decomposition method is also more successful for larger ensembles. Received: 22 February 2000 / Accepted: 6 December 2000