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 ...     

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.     

雷达资料同化对2015年台风彩虹数值模拟改进

基于WRF中尺度模式,采用集合卡尔曼滤波方法同化中国岸基多普勒天气雷达径向速度资料,对2015年登陆台风彩虹（1522）进行数值试验。从台风强度、路径、结构等方面验证了同化效果,并对不同区域雷达观测资料的同化敏感性进行讨论。试验结果表明:在同化窗内同化分析场台风位置误差相比未同化平均减小15 km,最多时刻减小38 km,同化资料时次越多,确定性预报路径误差越小。同化雷达资料后较好地反映出台风彩虹（1522）近海加强过程,台风中心最低气压同化分析和预报误差相比未同化最大减小超过25 hPa,台风眼的尺度、眼墙处对流非对称结构相比未同化与观测更加接近。试验还表明:台风内核100 km范围内的雷达观测对同化效果影响最大,仅同化这部分资料（约占总量的20%）各方面效果与同化全部资料相近,而仅同化100 km以外资料效果明显不及同化所有资料。仅同化台风内核雷达观测资料可以在不影响同化效果的前提下,使集合同化计算机时减小为原来的1/3,该策略可为台风实际业务预报提供一定参考。     

AMSR2辐射率资料同化对台风“山神”分析和预报的影响研究

在WRFDA-3DVar（Weather Research and Forecasting model's 3-dimensional variational data assimilation）的框架下,添加了新的探测器AMSR2（Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2）微波辐射率资料的同化模块,实现了AMSR2辐射率资料在中小尺度同化系统中的有效使用。台风"山神"（Son-Tinh）直接同化AMSR2资料的个例试验结果表明,AMSR2资料可以很好的探测出台风的形态,并且与没有同化该资料的控制试验相比,同化AMSR2辐射率资料可以有效提高模式分析场的质量,进一步提高了台风中心气压,最大风速和台风路径的预报。     

台风预报误差的流依赖特征及混合资料同化中最优耦合系数

基于集合卡尔曼变换与三维变分(ETKF-3DVAR)混合资料同化系统和欧洲中期天气预报中心(ECWMF)的全球集合预报,以"梅花"台风为例,分析了台风系统预报误差的流依赖特征,讨论了耦合系数在混合同化和预报中的敏感性及其对预报质量的影响。结果显示,台风系统的预报误差协方差具有显著的中小尺度结构特征,集合估计的预报误差协方差结构能够再现其流依赖属性。相对于3DVAR方案,混合资料同化方案的最优耦合系数对台风系统的分析和预报质量具有更好的改善;但不同的耦合系数对台风路径预报有明显的影响,不合适的耦合系数甚至可能导致更坏的结果,只有耦合了相对合适的预报误差协方差的流依赖信息,混合资料同化方案才可能对分析和预报质量有正效果。这表明在混合资料同化系统中,构造一种具有自适应能力的耦合权重函数,实现相对最优权重的自动选择,对充分发挥混合资料同化方案的潜在优势具有重要意义。     

不同 AMDAR资料同化时间窗对台风“摩羯”预报影响研究

2018年第14号台风“摩羯”对山东造成了大范围暴雨和大风天气,基于WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting）模式及其Hybrid-3DVAR混合同化预报系统,对Hybrid-3DVAR不同集合协方差比例和不同航空气象数据转发（aircraft meteorological data relay,以下简称AMDAR）资料同化时间窗对台风“摩羯”预报的影响进行了数值研究。结果表明：加大集合协方差比例对台风“摩羯”路径预报有较大影响和改进;当全部取来自集合体的流依赖误差协方差时,预报的台风路径最好,降水预报也最接近实况;AMDAR资料同化对于台风路径和降水预报也有正的改进作用,但加大集合协方差比例到100%时对台风路径预报影响更大;不同资料同化时间窗会影响同化的AMDAR资料数量,从而影响台风降水精细化预报;45 min同化时间窗的要素预报误差最小,对台风造成的强降水精细特征预报最接近实况;不同资料同化时间窗主要影响台风降水预报落区分布,对台风路径预报影响相对较小。     

GPS ZTD资料同化对台风“利奇马”模拟的影响研究

2019年超级台风“利奇马”对我国东部地区造成了巨大灾害,针对台风“利奇马”,研究GPS ZTD资料同化对于台风“利奇马”登陆后降水预报的影响。在进行GPS ZTD资料同化试验前,采取了稳定性检查、极值检查、双权重检查、偏差订正检查等质量控制方法以改善资料的同化应用水平。模拟试验结果表明在同化探空、风廓线等常规资料基础上,增加质控GPS ZTD有效改善了初始场的水汽条件,使得低层水汽辐合更强,从而改进了台风外围雨带的预报。并且通过循环同化能够改善初始环流场,进而改进了台风路径的预报使得台风主体降水的位置得到改善。     

The effect of three-dimensional variational data assimilation of QuikSCAT data on the numerical simulation of typhoon track and intensity

In this paper, the three-dimensional variational data assimilation scheme (3DVAR) in the mesoscalemod el version 5 (MM5) of the US Pennsylvania State University/National Center for Atmospheric Research is used to study the effect of assimilating the sea-wind data from QuikSCAT on the prediction of typhoon track and intensity. The case of Typhoon Dujuan (2003) is first tested and the results show appreciable improvements. Twelve other cases in 2003 are then evaluated. The assimilation of the QuikSCAT data produces significant impacts on the structure of Dujuan in terms of the horizontal and vertical winds, sealevel pressure and temperature at the initial time. With the assimilation, the 24-h (48-h) track prediction of 11 (10) out of the 12 typhoons is improved. The 24-h (48-h) prediction of typhoon intensity is also improved in 10 (9) of the 12 cases. These experiments therefore demonstrate that assimilation of the QuikSCAT sea-wind data can increase the accuracy of typhoon track and intensity predictions through modification of the initial fields associated with the typhoon.     

多普勒雷达资料循环同化在台风“鲇鱼”预报中的应用

高分辨率的中尺度预报模式ARPS及其3DVAR/云分析系统,针对2010年登陆福建的超强台风“鲇鱼”,研究对流可分辨尺度下,每1h循环同化沿海新一代多普勒雷达网资料分析、研究对台风初始场和预报场的改进作用.结果表明:单独同化雷达资料可显著改善初始场中的台风内核区动力和热力结构,以及台风强度和位置,进而提高18h台风强度、路径和降水预报,但预报路径和降水分布与实况仍存在差异.在雷达资料同化基础上加入常规观测资料,对初始场中台风内核区结构改进不大.但在显著调整大尺度背景场,从而进一步减少台风路径预报误差,能准确预报出福建沿海两个强降水区域的位置和强度.总体而言,雷达资料同化主要提高台风结构分析,而常规观测资料同化主要改善环境场分析,两者有效结合使得预报结果和实况最为接近.     

The impact of T-PARC 2008 dropsonde observations on typhoon track forecasting

The THORPEX-Pacific Asian Regional Campaign 2008 (T-PARC 2008) was performed during the period of August 1 through October 4, 2008, and mainly focused on the genesis, intensification, recurvature, and extra-tropical transition over the western North Pacific in collaboration with TCS-08 and DOTSTAR. This study investigates the impact of dropsonde observations on the improvement of predictive skills for Typhoon Sinlaku (0813) and Jangmi (0815) during T-PARC 2008. Twelve and six cases were selected for Sinlaku and Jangmi, respectively. The dropsonde data were assimilated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Three-Dimensional Variational system (3DVAR), and then the typhoon track was obtained by running a WRF model for up to 72 hours. Consequently, the assimilation of the dropsonde data had positive impacts on the typhoon track forecast and lead to mean track error reductions of 22.5% and 17.0% for Typhoon Sinlaku and Jangmi, respectively. Subsequent experiments were also conducted to determine the sensitivities of storm activity in the horizontal and vertical distributions and the dynamic and thermodynamic variables using the dropsonde data. The results show that sondes released south of storms around the middle troposphere (500～850 hPa) are more effective in improving the track forecast. The dynamic variables mainly affect the storm tracks, while the thermodynamic variables mainly affect the central pressure of the storm.     

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.     

Radar data assimilation of the GRAPES model and experimental results in a typhoon case

Constructing β-mesoscale weather systems in initial fields remains a challenging problem in a mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. Without vertical velocity matching the β-mesoscale weather system, convection activities would be suppressed by downdraft and cooling caused by precipitating hydrometeors. In this study, a method, basing on the three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) assimilation technique, was developed to obtain reasonable structures of β-mesoscale weather systems by assimilating radar data in a next-generation NWP system named GRAPES (the Global and Regional Assimilation and Prediction System) of China. Single-point testing indicated that assimilating radial wind significantly improved the horizontal wind but had little effect on the vertical velocity, while assimilating the retrieved vertical velocity (taking Richardson's equation as the observational operator) can greatly improve the vertical motion. Experiments on a typhoon show that assimilation of the radial wind data can greatly improve the prediction of the typhoon track, and can ameliorate precipitation to some extent. Assimilating the retrieved vertical velocity and rainwater mixing ratio, and adjusting water vapor and cloud water mixing ratio in the initial fields simultaneously, can significantly improve the tropical cyclone rainfall forecast but has little effect on typhoon path. Joint assimilating these three kinds of radar data gets the best results. Taking into account the scale of different weather systems and representation of observational data, data quality control, error setting of background field and observation data are still requiring further in-depth study.     

散射计和下投式探空仪资料对台风模拟的影响

为了评估同化QuikSCAT海平面气压场资料和Dropsonde资料对台风"Bilis"和"Kat-rina"模拟的影响,通过WRF-3DVAR变分同化系统将QuikSCAT海平面气压场资料和Dropsonde资料同化到WRF模式中,并以未同化任何资料和同化了QuikSCAT海平面气压场以及同化了Drop-sonde资料的数据为初始场,应用WRF模式进行模拟预报,并对得到的初始分析场和模拟预报得到的结果与台风实况报文进行了对比,得到的结论是:对台风初始时刻海平面气压场分布、初始台风中心定位、台风初始暖心结构的改善、台风路径、海平面最低气压场、海面最大风速和雷达回波的模拟方面,同化QuikSCAT海平面气压场的效果比同化Dropsonde资料明显,其中二者对海平面最低气压场的改进效果比海面最大风速的要好。但是两种资料的同化对初始相对湿度和台风强度细节变化方面都没有产生明显改善作用。同化QuikSCAT海平面气压场试验虽然仅仅同化了单层海平面气压场,但是在三维变分同化系统的动力约束作用下,也可以影响到中高层的各个要素场。     

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.     

GRAPES区域集合预报条件性台风涡旋重定位方法研究

为了在集合预报中更合理描述台风涡旋中心定位的不确定性,采用2009—2018年中国气象局和日本气象厅台风最佳路径数据,分析台风最佳路径涡旋中心定位的不确定性特征,在此基础上设计条件性台风涡旋重定位方法（Conditional Typhoon Vortex Relocation,CTVR）,构建集合成员台风涡旋中心重定位阈值条件、台风涡旋分离数学处理及涡旋重定位等数学处理过程,利用中国气象局数值预报中心区域集合预报系统（Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediciton System-Regional Ensemble System,GRAPES-REPS）对2018年西北太平洋上的3个台风（1808号“玛莉亚”、1824号“谭美”和1825号“康妮”）进行轴对称结构和轴对称+非对称结构条件性台风涡旋重定位两种方案的集合预报试验和检验评估。结果表明:（1）中国气象局和日本气象厅台风最佳路径误差平均值为13.72 km,可视为台风涡旋中心定位不确定性的合理估计值;（2）统计检验结果和典型个例分析表明,采用轴对称结构和轴对称+非对称结构条件性台风涡旋重定位方法的台风集合预报路径误差及集合预报一致性结果比较接近;（3）条件性台风涡旋重定位方法可以有效改进GRAPES-REPS区域集合预报台风路径概率预报效果,如台风路径集合预报平均误差有所减小,集合预报一致性（路径离散度与路径均方根误差比值）增大,特别是预报初期概率预报效果改进更为显著,而预报中后期改进有限;（4）通过对“玛莉亚”台风集合预报诊断分析发现,经过条件性台风涡旋重定位后,各集合成员的台风路径误差在预报初期明显减小且路径收敛,但随着预报时效的延长台风路径逐渐发散。应用条件性台风涡旋重定位方法后,台风涡旋环流与大尺度环境场仍然比较连续协调,且台风涡旋环流外的大尺度环境场具有一致性特点,最低气压误差、最大风速误差和降水预报技巧基本不变。可见,条件性台风涡旋重定位方法的应用可以提供更准确的台风路径预报不确定性信息,帮助预报员做出更准确的预报决策。      

The Effects of Assimilating Satellite Brightness Temperature and Bogus Data on the Simulation of Typhoon Kalmaegi (2008)

Observational and bogus satellite data are directly assimilated into the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in simulations of Typhoon Kalmaegi (2008). The data assimilation is performed using the Radiative Transfer for TIROS-N Operational Vertical Sounder (RTTOV) model and the three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) technique, with satellite observations taken from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-16 (NOAA-16) Advanced TIROS Vertical Sounder (ATOVS) system composed of the High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS), the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A), and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B). Data assimilation experiments are initialized at three different times. Improvements in the numerical simulation of the typhoon are discussed in the context of wind, temperature, pressure, and geopotential fields. The results indicate that assimilation of satellite data can improve both the representation of the initial conditions and the subsequent simulation of the typhoon. Different satellite data have different impacts on the typhoon track. In these simulations, data from AMSU-A play a greater role in improving the simulation of the typhoon than data from AMSU-B or HIRS. Assimilation of satellite data significantly affects the simulation of the subtropical high and the steering of the typhoon by the environmental flow. The subtropical high is enhanced and extends westward in the data assimilation experiments. The background flow therefore steers the typhoon more westward, improving the simulated typhoon track. Although direct assimilation of satellite brightness temperature improves the simulated environmental conditions, it does not significantly improve the simulated intensity of the typhoon. By contrast, initializing the typhoon simulation using bogus data in tandem with satellite data improves not only the environmental conditions but also the simulated inner-core structure of the typhoon. Assimilation of both types of data therefore improves the simulation of both the typhoon track and the typhoon intensity. The results of these experiments offer new insight into improving numerical simulations of typhoons.     

Hybrid ETKF-3DVAR方法同化多普勒雷达速度观测资料Ⅰ:模拟资料试验

利用WRF(Weather research and forecasting)模式及模式模拟的资料,采用Hybrid ETKF-3DVAR(ensemble transform Kalman filter-three-dimensional variational data assimilation)方法同化模拟雷达观测资料。该混合同化方法将集合转换卡尔曼滤波(ensemble transform Kalman filter)得到的集合样本扰动通过转换矩阵直接作用到背景场上,利用顺序滤波的思想得到分析扰动场;然后通过增加额外控制变量的方式把"流依赖"的集合协方差信息引入到变分目标函数中去,在3DVAR框架基础下与观测数据进行融合,从而给出分析场的最优估计。试验结果表明,Hybrid ETKF-3DVAR同化方法相比传统3DVAR可以提供更为准确的分析场,Hybrid方法雷达资料初始化模拟的台风涡旋结构与位置比3DVAR更加接近"真实场",对台风路径预报也有明显改进。通过对比Hybrid S试验与Hybrid F试验发现,Hybrid的正效果主要来源于混合背景误差协方差中的"流依赖"信息,集合平均场代替确定性背景场带来的效果并不显著。     

A STUDY ON SATELLITE DATA ASSIMILATION WITH DIFFERENT ATOVS IN TYPHOON NUMERICAL EXPERIMENTS

Based on the newly developed Weather Research and Forecasting model(WRF)and its three-dimensional variational data assimilation(3DVAR)system,this study constructed twelve experiments to explore the impact of direct assimilation of different ATOVS radiance on the intensity and track simulation of super-typhoon Fanapi(2010)using a data assimilation cycle method.The result indicates that the assimilation of ATOVS radiance could improve typhoon intensity effectively.The average bias of the central sea level pressure(CSLP)drops to 18 hPa,compared to 42 hPa in the experiment without data assimilation.However,the influence due to different radiance data is not significant,which is less than 6hPa on average,implying limited improvement from sole assimilation of ATOVS radiance.The track issue is studied in the following steps.First,the radiance from the same sensor of different satellites could produce different effect.For the AMSU-A,NOAA-15 and NOAA-18,they produce equivalent improvement,whereas NOAA-16 produces slightly poor effect.And for the AMSU-B,NOAA-15 and NOAA-16,they produce equivalent and more positive effect than that provided by the AMSU-A.Second,the assimilation radiance from different sensors of the identical satellites could also produce different effect.The assimilation of AMSU-B produces the largest improvement,while the ameliorating effect of HIRS/3assimilation is inferior to that of AMSU-B assimilation,while the AMSU-A assimilation exhibits the poorest improvement.Moreover,the simultaneous assimilation of different radiance could not produce further improvement.Finally,the experiments of simultaneous assimilation radiance from multiple satellites indicate that such assimilation may lead to negative effect due to accumulative bias when adding various radiance data into the data assimilation system.Thus the assimilation of ATOVS radiance from a single satellite may perform better than that from two or three satellites.     

Assimilation and Simulation of Typhoon Rusa （2002） Using the WRF System

Using the recently developed Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) 3DVAR and the WRF model, numerical experiments are conducted for the initialization and simulation of typhoon Rusa (2002).The observational data used in the WRF 3DVAR are conventional Global Telecommunications System (GTS) data and Korean Automatic Weather Station (AWS) surface observations. The Background Error Statistics (BES) via the National Meteorological Center (NMC) method has two different resolutions, that is, a 210-km horizontal grid space from the NCEP global model and a 10-km horizontal resolution from Korean operational forecasts. To improve the performance of the WRF simulation initialized from the WRF 3DVAR analyses, the scale-lengths used in the horizontal background error covariances via recursive filter are tuned in terms of the WRF 3DVAR control variables, streamfunction, velocity potential, unbalanced pressure and specific humidity. The experiments with respect to different background error statistics and different observational data indicate that the subsequent 24-h the WRF model forecasts of typhoon Rusa‘s track and precipitation are significantly impacted upon the initial fields. Assimilation of the AWS data with the tuned background error statistics obtains improved predictions of the typhoon track and its precipitation.     

ATOVS 不同卫星资料在台风模拟中的同化试验研究

利用美国国家大气研究中心(NCAR)开发的中尺度模式WRF(ARW)V3.2 及其三维变分同化系统WRF-3DVAR,以1011 号超强台风“ 凡亚比” 为个例,采用连续循环同化的方法对ATOVS 卫星资料进行同化试验,探讨了同化ATOVS 不同卫星资料对“ 凡亚比” 模拟的影响。结果表明,强度影响方面:同化ATOVS不同资料均可有效改善台风强度,台风中心海平面气压平均偏差从42 hPa 下降到18 hPa,但不同资料间的差异并不显著,平均在6 hPa 以内,这表明仅同化ATOVS 资料对台风强度的改善相对有限。路径影响方面:(1)不同卫星的同一种传感器资料效果略有不同,同化NOAA-18 和NOAA-15 的AMSU-A 资料效果较好,NOAA-16 的AMSU-A 效果较差;同化NOAA-15 和NOAA-16 的AMSU-B 资料效果相当,且均优于AMSU-A 资料。(2) 同一颗卫星不同传感器资料的差异较大,同化AMSU-B 资料的改善较为明显,HIRS-3 次之,AMSU-A较差,而同时同化不同资料并没有带来更为明显的改善。(3) 同时同化多颗卫星ATOVS 资料的试验表明,将多种资料引入到同化系统的同时,也带来相应的累积误差,因而仅同化一颗卫星可能比同时同化两颗或三颗卫星ATOVS 资料的效果要好。