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.     

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。     

A New Approach to Data Assimilation

A significant attempt to design a timesaving and efficient four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVar) has been made in this paper, and a new approach to data assimilation, which is noted as 'three-dimensional variational data assimilation of mapped observation (3DVM)' is proposed, based on the new concept of mapped observation and the new idea of backward 4DVar. Like the available 4DVar, 3DVM produces an optimal initial condition (IC) that is consistent with the prediction model due to the inclusion of model constraints and best fits the observations in the assimilation window through the model solution trajectory. Different from the 4DVar, the IC derived from 3DVM is located at the end of the assimilation window rather than at the beginning conventionally. This change greatly reduces the computing cost for the new approach, which is almost the same as that of the three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVar). Especially, such a change is able to improve assimilation accuracy because it does not need the tangential linear and adjoint approximations to calculate the gradient of cost function. Therefore, in numerical test, the new approach produces better IC than 4DVar does for 72-h simulation of TY9914 (Dan), by assimilating the three-dimensional fields of temperature and wind retrieved from the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) observations. Meanwhile, it takes only 1/7 of the computing cost that the 4DVar requires for the same initialization with the same retrieved data.     

An Adjoint-Free CNOP–4DVar Hybrid Method for Identifying Sensitive Areas in Targeted Observations: Method Formulation and Preliminary Evaluation

This paper proposes a hybrid method, called CNOP–4 DVar, for the identification of sensitive areas in targeted observations, which takes the advantages of both the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation(CNOP) and four-dimensional variational assimilation(4 DVar) methods. The proposed CNOP–4 DVar method is capable of capturing the most sensitive initial perturbation(IP), which causes the greatest perturbation growth at the time of verification; it can also identify sensitive areas by evaluating their assimilation effects for eliminating the most sensitive IP. To alleviate the dependence of the CNOP–4 DVar method on the adjoint model, which is inherited from the adjoint-based approach, we utilized two adjointfree methods, NLS-CNOP and NLS-4 DVar, to solve the CNOP and 4 DVar sub-problems, respectively. A comprehensive performance evaluation for the proposed CNOP–4 DVar method and its comparison with the CNOP and CNOP–ensemble transform Kalman filter(ETKF) methods based on 10 000 observing system simulation experiments on the shallow-water equation model are also provided. The experimental results show that the proposed CNOP–4 DVar method performs better than the CNOP–ETKF method and substantially better than the CNOP method.     

基于NLS-4DVar方法的雷达资料同化及其在暴雨预报中的应用

在基于本征正交分解POD（Proper Orthogonal Decomposition）的集合四维变分同化方法（POD4DEnVar）建立的雷达资料同化系统（PRAS）的基础上,本文利用非线性最小二乘法的集合四维变分同化方法（NLS-4DVar）对PRAS进行改进,解决PRAS在高度非线性情况下的适应性问题,建立了新的雷达资料同化系统（NRAS）。通过观测系统模拟试验OSSEs（Observing System Simulation Experiments）和两次实际暴雨同化试验（2010年7月8日,中国中部地区;2014年3月30日,中国华南地区）对NRAS进行检验,并与PRAS的同化结果进行了对比。结果表明:无论是OSSEs还是实际雷达资料的同化,相对于PRAS,NRAS能够进一步提高同化效果。通过增加迭代的次数,NRAS能够有效地调整初始场的风场和水汽场,进一步提高了降水强度和位置的预报精度。但随着迭代次数的增加,对初始场的调整变小,进而对降水预报效果的改进也减小。试验结果表明NRAS能够有效解决PRAS在高度非线性情况下的应用问题,通过有限次数的迭代,即可得到近似收敛的结果。因而NRAS有望在数值预报中更有效地同化雷达资料,提高中小尺度天气的预报水平。     

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.     

物理滤波初始化四维变分在临近预报中的应用

运用WRF模式（Weather Research and Forecasting Model,天气研究和预报模式）和WRFDA同化（WRF Data Assimilation,WRF资料同化）系统,探究采用物理滤波初始化四维变分同化方法提高数值预报在临近预报时效的预报能力的可能性。通过采用12 min同化窗,在不显著增加计算量的情况下,得到更协调的模式初始场,从而提高模式预报能力。选取2018年8月华北地区17个降水个例进行研究,结果表明:采用物理滤波初始化四维变分同化技术能够明显改进模式短时临近降水预报能力,明显提高对大量级降水预报的ETS评分,6 h累积降水大于25.0 mm量级的ETS评分由0.125提高到0.190,且6 h累积降水大于60.0 mm量级的ETS评分由0.016提高到0.081。研究还表明:同化雷达风场通过改进初始动力场使次网格尺度降水过程（积云参数化）快速响应,可提高短时临近时段的降水预报能力。     

Impact of Analysis-time Tuning on the Performance of the DRP-4DVar Approach

In this study we extend the dimension-reduced projection-four dimensional variational data assimilation (DRP-4DVar) approach to allow the analysis time to be tunable, so that the intervals between analysis time and observation times can be shortened. Due to the limits of the perfect-model assumption and the tangentlinear hypothesis, the analysis-time tuning is expected to have the potential to further improve analyses and forecasts. Various sensitivity experiments using the Lorenz-96 model are conducted to test the impact of analysistime tuning on the performance of the new approach under perfect and imperfect model scenarios, respectively. Comparing three DRP-4DVar schemes having the analysis time at the start, middle, and end of the assimilation window, respectively, it is found that the scheme with the analysis time in the middle of the window outperforms the others, on the whole. Moreover, the advantage of this scheme is more pronounced when a longer assimilation window is adopted or more observations are assimilated.     

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.     

An Economical Approach to Four-dimensional Variational Data Assimilation

Four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVar) is one of the most promising methods to provide optimal analysis for numerical weather prediction (NWP). Five national NWP centers in the world have successfully applied 4DVar methods in their global NWPs, thanks to the increment method and adjoint technique. However, the application of 4DVar is still limited by the computer resources available at many NWP centers and research institutes. It is essential, therefore, to further reduce the computational cost of 4DVar. Here, an economical approach to implement 4DVar is proposed, using the technique of dimension-reduced projection (DRP), which is called ``DRP-4DVar." The proposed approach is based on dimension reduction using an ensemble of historical samples to define a subspace. It directly obtains an optimal solution in the reduced space by fitting observations with historical time series generated by the model to form consistent forecast states, and therefore does not require implementation of the adjoint of tangent linear approximation. To evaluate the performance of the DRP-4DVar on assimilating different types of mesoscale observations, some observing system simulation experiments are conducted using MM5 and a comparison is made between adjoint-based 4DVar and DRP-4DVar using a 6-hour assimilation window.     

雷达观测对应模式变量非线性特征及对四维变分同化的影响

四维变分同化（4DVar）中切线性模式和伴随模式的时间积分长度即为同化时间窗的长度。为理解线性模式时间积分长度对4DVar的具体影响,在雷达观测对应变量非线性分析的基础上,进行了一系列不同时间窗（10 min、20 min和30 min）4DVar单点观测试验和一次降雨的实际雷达同化和预报试验。从径向风同化来看:短时间窗（10 min）的风场增量更大、更局地;长时间窗(20 min、30 min)的风场增量则更具系统性特征,但会丢失一些小尺度信息,导致暴雨预报能力降低。从反射率同化来看:短时间窗对6 h内强降水预报有较明显的改善,较长时间窗甚至会降低降水预报效果。研究旨在为合理设置4DVar的同化时间窗提供参考,以有效利用高时空分辨率的雷达观测资料,又尽量减小线性化造成的误差,进而快速有效地同化雷达信息。      

基于历史样本投影的四维变分陆面数据同化方法及其初步应用

法面临着计算量上的挑战。本研究将一种历史样本投影的四维变分同化方法(Historical-Sample-Projection4DVar,简写为HSP-4DVar)应用于陆面数据同化,建立起CoLM陆面模型的HSP-4DVar系统。相比其他四维变分同化方法,HSP-4DVar的分析值是显式求解,不需要编写和使用伴随模式,从而大大节省了计算量,是一种易于实现的同化方案。通过同化56个月的土壤湿度观测数据表明,新的陆面同化系统不仅省时,而且能够有效吸取观测信息,使得同化后的均方根误差显著降低,各层土壤湿度模拟都有所改善,陆表1000mm层的改善最为明显。     

雷达资料在登陆台风“桑美”数值模拟中的应用

将国内多普勒天气雷达的反射率因子及径向风资料引入ARPS-3DVar同化系统进行同化,针对2006年登陆浙江苍南并造成严重影响的超强台风“桑美”,探讨多普勒雷达资料同化对台风模拟初始场和预报场的改进作用。结果表明:利用ARPS-3DVar同化雷达资料可以明显改善6 h同化窗口内的降水、风场和回波结构,并能提高模式对中尺度雨团位置、强度的模拟能力;雷达资料初始场同化后模拟的台风涡旋和台风眼结构与位置更加接近实况,各物理量空间分布结构更具有明显中尺度特征,从而改善了台风路径和降水的预报。但模拟过程中台风强度模拟偏弱,有待进一步改进。     

基于VDRAS的快速更新雷达四维变分分析系统

基于雷达资料快速更新四维变分同化 (RR4DVar) 技术和三维数值云模式,初步研发了一个针对对流尺度数值模拟的快速更新雷达四维变分分析系统。系统通过对京津冀6部多普勒天气雷达资料进行RR4DVar同化,并融合5 min自动气象站观测和中尺度数值模式结果,可快速分析得到12~18 min更新的低层大气三维动力、热力场的对流尺度结构特征。针对2009年7月22日发生在京津冀的一次强风暴个例,通过一系列敏感性试验,并利用局地加密资料进行检验对比,表明有效的雷达资料RR4DVar同化及自动气象站和中尺度模式资料融合方案、恰当的中尺度背景场设置和动力约束方法是获得合理结果的关键。研究也表明:恰当的系统配置能够模拟出与对流生消发展密切相关的近风暴环境特征,包括低层入流、垂直风切变、低层辐合上升和暖舌等,以及风暴自身形成的冷池、出流等与风暴演变密切相关的对流尺度结构。     

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。      

基于扰动模式的四维变分资料同化系统框架的设计完善和数值试验

为了建立一个应用于区域数值预报的四维变分资料同化（4DVar）系统,在近期开发的扰动预报模式GRAPES_PF基础上,开发完善增量四维变分同化系统框架。该框架中暂不包含物理过程（长短波辐射、边界层过程、对流参数化和云微物理等）。对比业务使用的GRAPES 3DVar系统,增加了温度控制变量。将无量纲Exner气压与流函数的线性风压平衡方程直接在地形追随垂直坐标面上求解,且通过广义共轭余差法（GCR）求解扰动亥姆霍兹（Helmholtz）伴随方程。利用人造“探空”资料对2015年10月台风“彩虹”进行了理想数值试验。试验结果表明,所开发的扰动四维变分同化框架得到了预期的结果,即同化更多资料并反复受到模式约束的四维变分同化系统能有效改善初值质量,进而改善区域数值预报。建立的区域四维变分同化框架合理可行,为进一步发展包含完整物理过程的区域四维变分同化系统奠定了研究基础。      

Doppler Radar Data Assimilation with a Local SVD-En3DVar Method

An observation localization scheme is introduced into an ensemble-based three-dimensional variational (3DVar) assimilation method based on the singular value decomposition technique (SVD-En3DVar) to improve assimilation skill. A point-by-point analysis technique is adopted in which the weight of each observation decreases with increasing distance between the analysis point and the observation point. A set of numerical experiments, in which simulated Doppler radar data are assimilated into the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, is designed to test the scheme. The results are compared with those obtained using the original global and local patch schemes in SVD-En3DVar, neither of which includes this type of observation localization. The observation localization scheme not only eliminates spurious analysis increments in areas of missing data, but also avoids the discontinuous analysis fields that arise from the local patch scheme. The new scheme provides better analysis fields and a more reasonable short-range rainfall forecast than the original schemes. Additional forecast experiments that assimilate real data from 10 radars indicate that the short-term precipitation forecast skill can be improved by assimilating radar data and the observation localization scheme provides a better forecast than the other two schemes.     

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。     

GRAPES全球四维变分同化系统极小化算法预调节

在进行多次外循环更新的增量分析框架下,前一次极小化迭代过程中产生的信息可提供给下一次极小化做预调节。该文在GRAPES全球四维变分同化系统中对极小化算法——L-BFGS算法实施了这种预调节,通过全观测的个例试验和批量试验进行评估,发现进行预调节后L-BFGS算法的收敛效率得到明显提高,而且在1个月的循环试验中表现十分稳定。该工作可以帮助GRAPES全球四维变分同化系统有效减少极小化的迭代次数,有利于满足业务化运行的时效要求。另外,间隔6 h和间隔24 h的两次4DVar分析对应的海森矩阵变化不大,因此,前一时刻极小化过程产生的信息提供给后一时刻的极小化进行预调节也有一定效果。     

FY-3A SATELLITE MICROWAVE DATA ASSIMILATION EXPERIMENTS IN TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST

China’s new generation of polar-orbiting meteorological satellite FY-3A was successfully launched on May 26,2008,carrying microwave sounding devices which had similar performance to ATOVS of NOAA series.In order to study the application of microwave sounding data in numerical prediction of typhoons and to improve typhoon forecasting,we assimilated data directly for numerical forecasting of the track and intensity of the 2009 typhoon Morakot(0908)based on the WRF-3DVar system.Results showed that the initial fields of the numerical model due to direct assimilation of FY-3A microwave sounding data was improved much more than that due to assimilation of conventional observations alone,and the improvement was especially significant over the ocean,which is always without conventional observations.The model initial fields were more reasonable in reflecting the initial situation of typhoon circulation as well as temperature and humidity conditions,and typhoon central position at sea was also adjusted.Through direct 3DVar assimilation of FY-3A microwave data,the regional mesoscale model improves the forecasting of typhoon track.Therefore,the FY-3A microwave data could efficiently improve the numerical prediction of typhoons.