雷达反射率资料的三维变分同化研究

应用天气研究和预报模式(WRF)三维变分系统中一种新的雷达反射率资料间接同化方法来进行反射率资料的三维变分同化研究,评估雷达反射率资料对夏季短时定量降水预报的作用.该方法不直接同化雷达反射率资料,而是同化由反射率资料反演出的雨水和估计的水汽.以2009年夏季北京地区发生的4次强降水过程为例,考察了北京市气象局业务运行的快速更新循环同化预报系统对京津冀地区雷达网的雷达反射率资料的同化性能以及雷达反射率资料和径向风资料同时同化的效果.数值试验结果表明:(1)同化反演雨水或水汽都能改善降水预报,但同化反演水汽对降水预报效果的改善起了更重要的作用;(2)同化反射率资料能极大地提高短时降水预报的效果,其稳定的正面效果可以延伸到6h的预报时效,而同化径向风资料不能得到稳定的正效果;(3)同化雷达资料时,应用快速更新循环同化预报系统是提高短时定量降水预报的一个有效途径.     

基于WRFDA-Chem三维变分同化系统的中国PM2.5和PM10资料同化试验北大核心CSCD

将大气化学三维变分同化系统WRFDA_Chem引入睿图—化学环境气象数值预报系统(RMAPS-Chem),利用2016年11月地面观测细颗粒物(PM2.5)和颗粒物(PM10)逐小时质量浓度资料进行同化预报试验:6 h循环同化结果表明,WRFDA-Chem对初始场PM2.5和PM10的模拟偏差和相关性有显著改善,均方根误差(RMSE)减小40%左右,相关性提高0.27~0.37;同化对预报改进能持续24 h以上,PM2.5(PM10)浓度预报RMSE降低25%(10%),相关性提升14%(25%);加密同化频次(逐小时循环同化)进一步改进预报效果。未来需要进一步开展同化数据质量控制方案研究以优化业务预报效果,并在深入理解模式不确定性和偏差来源的情况下,进一步开展模式和同化系统的协同发展。     

非线性平衡方案在三维变分同化系统中的应用

文中考虑气流出现明显的弯曲和辐合时,资料变分同化方案中的风压场间动力学约束问题。在强涡旋、锋面等剧烈变化的系统中,地转平衡和线性平衡方程均不能很好地描述风压场关系,非线性平衡方程考虑了流场曲率的作用,能更恰当地反映风压场的关系。把非线性平衡方案应用于三维变分同化分析系统中,可以得到和天气形势相关联的模式变量背景误差协方差,对热带气旋进行同化试验后得到的分析场更协调。结果表明,非线性平衡方程的应用,可以提高强涡旋系统中三维变分同化分析场的质量,对热带气旋强度预报有一定的改善。     

雷达TREC风的三维变分同化应用与试验

介绍了雷达TREC风场在中国气象科学研究院开发的三维变分同化系统GRAPeS-3DVar中的应用,研究了GRAPES-3DVar系统同化雷达TREC风场资料的一些基本特性,发现雷达TREC风场在GRAPES-3DVar中有较好的应用价值,能有效地提高分析产品的质量,并通过一个热带气旋登陆变性过程的数值试验,说明了在GRAPES-3DVar中加入雷达TREC风场也能改善预报效果。     

bbGPS/PWV资料三维变分同化改进MM5降水预报连续试验的评估

利用区域地基GPS网反演的高时空密度的大气垂直方向水汽总量，也称为可降水量（PWV），可大大弥补常规探空探测水汽资料的不足。为了全面评估区域GPS网PWV资料同化对业务数值天气预报改进程度的目的，在个例研究分析的基础上，进行了连续38天的GPS/PWV资料三维同化（3D-Var）改进数值业务预报的试验。研究方法是根据长江三角洲地区GPS气象网在2002年梅雨和盛夏季节观测的刖资料，通过三维变分同化建立中尺度数值预报模式MM5的初始场，逐日作出长江三角洲地区24小时的降水量预报。以6小时累积雨量为对象，与未同化GPS／刖资料的MM5的相应预报比较，通过多种评分方法，评估了GPS／PWV资料改进MM5降水预报的效果。结果表明GPS／PWV资料同化后的MM5降水预报能力在大部分时间和大部分地区都有所提高，主要是伪击率有较明显的下降，对小范围降水预报的改进更为明显。预报明显改进的区域恰好位于GPS站填补常规探空站间距较大的地区。     

热带西南季风对0214号热带气旋“黄蜂”的影响

采用中国数值预报创新基地最新开发的三维变分同化系统(Grapes 3DVAR)的分析场为模式初值场,利用广州热带海洋气象研究所开发的南海热带气旋业务预报模式,在模拟试验(控制试验)的基础上,对强、弱热带西南季风作对比试验(异常试验)研究.试验结果表明除环境引导气流外,"黄蜂"偏心结构变化引起的偏心运动变化对热带气旋移向、移速的变化起了一定的作用;西南季风对热带气旋"黄蜂"的动力结构、热力结构和移动路径都有一定的影响;热带西南季风通过改变热带气旋的不对称结构和削弱副热带高压西侧这两个途径,造成热带气旋路径右偏.     

云迹风在热带气旋路径数值预报中的应用研究

通过一系列四维变分同化试验对GMS5卫星资料反演的云迹风资料在西北太平洋热带气旋的初始化及路径数值预报中的作用进行研究,同化资料为中国国家卫星气象中心提供的GMS5水汽和红外云迹风资料,其中70%在400hPa以上,50%集中在200～300hPa。应用美国NCAR/PSU中尺度模式MM5及其四维变分同化系统,同化窗口为6h,对初始时刻和6h后的云迹风进行同化。同化前对云迹风资料进行了简单的类似ECMWF初值检验方法的质量控制。对2002年8个西北太平洋热带气旋共进行了22组试验。结果表明,采用四维变分同化技术同化云迹风对热带气旋路径预报有一定改善,12,24,36和48h预报的平均距离误差分别降低5%,12%,10%和7%,但同化云迹风的作用与初始气旋强度有关。选择初始中心海平面气压960hPa作为强、弱气旋的分类标准,则11个较强气旋平均路径误差12h减小了13%,12h以后的预报误差减小率维持在20%以上。而对于11个较弱气旋,平均路径误差反而略有增加,说明同化云迹风资料对不同初始强度的气旋作用也有所不同。其主要原因是由于强度较强的热带气旋往往具有较为深厚的垂直结构,因此受高层大气流场的影响更明显;同时,较弱热带气旋的云迹风观测相对稀少且凌乱,并且更容易受环境气流的影响,因此对于较弱的热带气旋,当模式变量与模式或变量之间在同化后不够协调的话,就会产生负效应。     

利用卫星云图变分同化初始场对热带气旋路径影响的数值试验

利用上海台风研究所的东海热带气旋预报模式，讨论用卫星亮温资料变分同化初始温度场及相对湿度场对热带气旋移动路径的影响。结果表明，对400—925hPa模式层的温度场、相对湿度场和温度场的变分同化对热带气旋移动路径预报有较好的实用意义。     

热带气旋自同化技术试验研究

针对数值预报初始场的热带气旋普遍偏弱,BOGUS技术不能提供气旋内部中小尺度结构信息的问题,提出了热带气旋自同化技术,利用初始场中的热带气旋风场和台风报文中的7级和10级风圈半径,构建人造热带气旋风场,并利用3维变分同化方法得到新的初始场。该方法的优点是在获得新的初始场中尽可能保留背景场中热带气旋的风场结构信息,同时又使气旋得到加强。从4个个例的72 h模拟试验结果表明,自同化方法取得了较好的效果,结果优于BDA方法。且该方法简单易行,具有一定的业务应用价值。     

东海热带气旋路径预报模式业务运行结果及改进模式

统计分析了东海热带气旋路径预报模式在１９９６年、１９９７年和１９９８年三年业务运行的结果;系统地与主观预报和日本数值预报结果进行了同个例同时次的比较：对模式边界层物理过程中摩擦拖曳系数以及二次台风Ｂｏｇｕｓ技术、三维最优插值客观分析方法和资料同化等影响热带气旋移动的作用进行了试验研究;实现了间歇资料同化处理的业务化运行。     

Assimilation of All-sky Geostationary Satellite Infrared Radiances for Convection-Permitting Initialization and Prediction of Hurricane Joaquin (2015)

Intensity forecasting is one of the most challenging aspects of tropical cyclone (TC) forecasting. This work examines the impact of assimilating high-resolution all-sky infrared radiance observations from geostationary satellite GOES-13 on the convection-permitting initialization and prediction of Hurricane Joaquin (2015) with an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Given that almost all operational global and regional models struggled to capture Hurricane Joaquin (2015)’s intensity, this study examines the potential in improving Joaquin’s prediction when assimilating all-sky infrared radiances from GOES-13’s water vapor channel. It is demonstrated that, after a few 3-hour cycles assimilating all-sky radiance, the WRF model was able to forecast reasonably well Joaquin’s intensity, including its rapid intensification (RI). The improvement was largely due to a more realistic initial hurricane structure with a stronger, warmer, and more compact inner-core. Ensemble forecasts were used to further explore the important physical mechanisms driving the hurricane’s RI. Results showed that the RI forecasts were greatly impacted by the initial inner-core vortex structure.     

Satellite Data Assimilation of Upper-Level Sounding Channels in HWRF with Two Different Model Tops

The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A(AMSU-A) onboard the NOAA satellites NOAA-18 and NOAA-19 and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites(EUMETSAT)Met Op-A, the hyperspectral Atmospheric Infrared Sounder(AIRS) onboard Aqua, the High resolution Infra Red Sounder(HIRS) onboard NOAA-19 and Met Op-A, and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder(ATMS) onboard Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership(NPP) satellite provide upper-level sounding channels in tropical cyclone environments. Assimilation of these upper-level sounding channels data in the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting(HWRF) system with two different model tops is investigated for the tropical storms Debby and Beryl and hurricanes Sandy and Isaac that occurred in 2012. It is shown that the HWRF system with a higher model top allows more upper-level microwave and infrared sounding channels data to be assimilated into HWRF due to a more accurate upper-level background profile. The track and intensity forecasts produced by the HWRF data assimilation and forecast system with a higher model top are more accurate than those with a lower model top.     

TAMDAR Observation Assimilation in WRF 3D-Var and Its Impact on Hurricane Ike (2008) Forecast

This study evaluates the impact of atmospheric observations from the Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) observing system on numerical weather prediction of hurricane Ike (2008) using three-dimensional data assimilation system for the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model (WRF 3D-Var). The TAMDAR data assimilation capability is added to WRF 3D-Var by incorporating the TAMDAR observation operator and corresponding observation processing procedure. Two 6-h cycling data assimilation and forecast experiments are conducted. Track and intensity forecasts are verified against the best track data from the National Hurricane Center. The results show that, on average, assimilating TAMDAR observations has a positive impact on the forecasts of hurricane Ike. The TAMDAR data assimilation reduces the track errors by about 30 km for 72-h forecasts. Improvements in intensity forecasts are also seen after four 6-h data assimilation cycles. Diagnostics show that assimilation of TAMDAR data improves subtropical ridge and steering flow in regions along Ike’s track, resulting in better forecasts.     

Improving Multi-Model Ensemble Forecasts of Tropical Cyclone Intensity Using Bayesian Model Averaging

This paper proposes a method for multi-model ensemble forecasting based on Bayesian model averaging (BMA), aiming to improve the accuracy of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity forecasts, especially forecasts of minimum surface pressure at the cyclone center (P_min). The multi-model ensemble comprises three operational forecast models: the Global Forecast System (GFS) of NCEP, the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) models of NCEP, and the Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) of ECMWF. The mean of a predictive distribution is taken as the BMA forecast. In this investigation, bias correction of the minimum surface pressure was applied at each forecast lead time, and the distribution (or probability density function, PDF) of P_min was used and transformed. Based on summer season forecasts for three years, we found that the intensity errors in TC forecast from the three models varied significantly. The HWRF had a much smaller intensity error for short lead-time forecasts. To demonstrate the proposed methodology, cross validation was implemented to ensure more efficient use of the sample data and more reliable testing. Comparative analysis shows that BMA for this three-model ensemble, after bias correction and distribution transformation, provided more accurate forecasts than did the best of the ensemble members (HWRF), with a 5%–7% decrease in root-mean-square error on average. BMA also outperformed the multi-model ensemble, and it produced “predictive variance” that represented the forecast uncertainty of the member models. In a word, the BMA method used in the multi-model ensemble forecasting was successful in TC intensity forecasts, and it has the potential to be applied to routine operational forecasting.     

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.     

The impact of AIRS atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles on hurricane forecasts: Ike (2008) and Irene (2011)

Atmospheric Infra Red Sounder(AIRS) measurements are a valuable supplement to current observational data, especially over the oceans where conventional data are sparse. In this study, two types of AIRS-retrieved temperature and moisture profiles, the AIRS Science Team product(Sci Sup) and the single field-of-view(SFOV) research product, were evaluated with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF) analysis data over the Atlantic Ocean during Hurricane Ike(2008) and Hurricane Irene(2011). The evaluation results showed that both types of AIRS profiles agreed well with the ECMWF analysis, especially between 200 h Pa and 700 h Pa. The average standard deviation of both temperature profiles was approximately 1 K under 200 h Pa, where the mean AIRS temperature profile from the AIRS Sci Sup retrievals was slightly colder than that from the AIRS SFOV retrievals. The mean Sci Sup moisture profile was slightly drier than that from the SFOV in the mid troposphere. A series of data assimilation and forecast experiments was then conducted with the Advanced Research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF) model and its three-dimensional variational(3DVAR) data assimilation system for hurricanes Ike and Irene. The results showed an improvement in the hurricane track due to the assimilation of AIRS clear-sky temperature profiles in the hurricane environment. In terms of total precipitable water and rainfall forecasts, the hurricane moisture environment was found to be affected by the AIRS sounding assimilation.Meanwhile, improving hurricane intensity forecasts through assimilating AIRS profiles remains a challenge for further study.     

登陆台风强度变化过程预报的影响试验研究

探索了基于WRF模式的集合卡尔曼滤波同化方法（WRF-EnKF,简称EnKF）在近海有可能达到更强台风连续循环同化中国大陆高时空分辨率多普勒天气雷达径向风观测资料的效果,同时检验台风Vicente（2012）的三维结构演变及其动力学特征。通过短期集合预报得到跟随当前流场变化着的背景误差协方差的台风涡旋和动力学结构。研究发现,EnKF同化预报系统能有效地同化高时空分辨率雷达径向速度观测资料,显著改善初始场中台风Vicente的中小尺度内核结构,同时提高对台风Vicente的路径和强度及其相伴随的短期强降水预报。在台风最强时刻同化雷达径向风观测能快速（1~2 h）得到真实的暖核台风结构,同时进一步提高台风路径和强度的预报。另外,EnKF同化雷达径向风观测资料还能有效提高短期降水预报,1 h和3 h累积降水的分布、降水中心以及降水随时间演变都能得到显著改善,这与改善台风路径、结构和强度有密切关系。因此,对中国东南沿海有可能达到较强的台风进行同化雷达径向风观测资料可改善登陆台风的预报水平,这为利用我国地基多普勒天气雷达观测资料改善模式的初始场从而提高台风预报提供一定的指示作用。      

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.     

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.