Observation System Experiments for Typhoon Nida (2004) Using the CNOP Method and DOTSTAR Data

This study investigated the influence of dropwindsonde observations on typhoon forecasts. The study also evaluated the feasibility of the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) method as a basis for sensitivity analysis of such forecasts. This sensitivity analysis could furnish guidance in the selection of targeted observations. The study was performed by conducting observation system experiments (OSEs). This research used the fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5), the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and dropsonde observations of Typhoon Nida at 1200 UTC 17 May 2004. The dropsondes were collected under the operational Dropsonde Observations for Typhoon Surveillance near the Taiwan Region (DOTSTAR) program. In this research, five kinds of experiments were designed and conducted:(1) no observations were assimilated; (2) all observations were assimilated;(3) observations in the sensitive area revealed by the CNOP method were assimilated;(4) the same as in (3), but for the region revealed by the first singular vector (FSV) method;and (5) observations within a randomly selected area were assimilated. The OSEs showed that (1) the DOTSTAR data had a positive impact on the forecast of Nida’s track;(2) dropsondes in the sensitive areas identified by the MM5 CNOP and FSV remained effective for improving the track forecast for Nida on the WRF platform;and (3) the greatest improvement in the track forecast resulted from the CNOP-based (third) simulation, which indicated that the CNOP method would be useful in decision making about dropsonde deployments.     

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.     

基于CNOP方法的台风目标观测中三种敏感区 确定方案的比较研究

在目标观测中,敏感区的确定是个关键性的问题。本文详细研究了如何用条件非线性最优扰动（CNOP）方法确定敏感区。提出了三种确定敏感区的方案:水平投影方案、单点能量投影方案以及垂直积分能量方案。比较了三种方案确定的敏感区的差异,分析了它们所阐释的物理意义,讨论了它们的优缺点,并通过理想回报试验考查了不同方案确定的敏感区的有效性。对六个台风个例的应用结果显示,单点能量投影方案与垂直积分能量方案下识别的敏感区较为相似,二者与水平投影方案确定的敏感区则有较大的区别。两种能量方案确定的敏感区更多地反映了环境场对台风的影响,而水平投影方案则反映了台风自身对流不对称性结构对台风发展变化的影响。理想回报试验结果表明,由两种能量方案确定的敏感区对预报误差能量的减小程度以及路径预报的改善程度都要大于水平投影方案确定的敏感区的效果,且垂直积分能量方案确定的敏感区的有效性最高。而在强度预报方面,三种方案对预报效果的改善程度相当。因此,总的说在台风目标观测研究中,利用CNOP方法确定敏感区时,垂直积分能量方案是较佳的方案。     

伴随敏感性方法、第一奇异向量方法以及条件非线性最优扰动方法在台风目标观测敏感区识别中的比较研究

本文通过深入分析伴随敏感性（ADS）方法、第一奇异向量（LSV）方法、以及条件非线性最优扰动（CNOP）方法在目标观测敏感区识别方面的原理,提出了非线性程度的概念和计算方法,考察了转向型和直线型台风的非线性程度,分析了上述三种方法在不同非线性程度下识别的敏感区的异同,同时对比了转向型和直线型台风的敏感区的差异,并通过敏感性试验探讨了在不同非线性程度下以及在转向型与直线型台风中,预报对敏感区内初值的敏感性程度,进而探讨台风目标观测在不同情况下的有效性。结果表明,转向型台风的非线性程度差别比较大,或者特别强,或者特别弱;而直线型台风非线性程度居中,不同台风个例之间的非线性程度差别较小。对于非线性较弱的台风,三种方法识别的敏感区较为相似,而对于非线性较强的台风,LSV方法与ADS方法识别的敏感区较为相似,但是与CNOP方法识别的敏感区具有较大的差别。对于转向型台风,敏感区主要位于行进路径的右前方,而对于直线型台风,敏感区主要位于初始台风位置的后方。敏感性试验表明,不论台风非线性强弱,转向还是直行,CNOP敏感区内的随机扰动发展最大,而LSV敏感区内叠加的随机扰动发展次之,ADS敏感区内叠加的扰动发展最小;此外,非线性弱的台风,扰动的发展大于非线性强的台风的扰动的发展,表明非线性弱的台风预报受初值影响更大,目标观测的效果可能会更明显。     

Observation system experiments for Typhoon Jangmi (200815) observed during T-PARC

In this study, the impact of various types of observations on the track forecast of Tropical Cyclone (TC) Jangmi (200815) is examined by using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the corresponding three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system. TC Jangmi is a recurving typhoon that is observed as part of the THORPEX Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (T-PARC). Conventional observations from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and targeted dropsonde observations from the Dropwindsonde Observations for Typhoon Surveillance near the Taiwan Region (DOTSTAR) were used for a series of observation system experiments (OSEs). We found that the assimilation of observations in oceanic areas is important to analyze environmental flows (such as the North Pacific high) and to predict the recurvature of TC Jangmi. The assimilation of targeted dropsonde observations (DROP) results in a significant impact on the track forecast. Observations of ocean surface winds (QSCAT) and satellite temperature soundings (SATEM) also contribute positively to the track forecast, especially two- to three-day forecasts. The impact of sensitivity guidance such as real-time singular vectors (SVs) was evaluated in additional experiments.     

The Impact of Verification Area Design on Tropical Cyclone Targeted Observations Based on the CNOP Method

This study investigated the impact of different verification-area designs on the sensitive areas identified using the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) method for tropical cyclone targeted observations.The sensitive areas identified using the first singular vector (FSV) method,which is the linear approximation of CNOP,were also investigated for comparison.By analyzing the validity of the sensitive areas,the proper design of a verification area was developed.Tropical cyclone Rananim,which occurred in August 2004 in the northwest Pacific Ocean,was studied.Two sets of verification areas were designed;one changed position,and the other changed both size and position.The CNOP and its identified sensitive areas were found to be less sensitive to small variations of the verification areas than those of the FSV and its sensitive areas.With larger variations of the verification area,the CNOP and the FSV as well as their identified sensitive areas changed substantially.In terms of reducing forecast errors in the verification area,the CNOP-identified sensitive areas were more beneficial than those identified using FSV.The design of the verification area is important for cyclone prediction.The verification area should be designed with a proper size according to the possible locations of the cyclone obtained from the ensemble forecast results.In addition,the development trend of the cyclone analyzed from its dynamic mechanisms was another reference.When the general position of the verification area was determined,a small variation in size or position had little influence on the results of CNOP.     

数值天气预报和气候预测可预报性研究的若干动力学方法

简要回顾了数值天气预报和气候预测可预报性研究的若干动力学方法,包括用于研究第一类可预报性问题的线性奇异向量（LSV）和条件非线性最优初始扰动（CNOP-I）方法,以及Lyapunov指数和非线性局部Lyapunov指数方法。前两种方法用于研究预报或预测的预报误差问题,可以用于估计天气预报和气候预测的最大预报误差,而且根据导致最大预报误差的初始误差结构的信息,这两种方法可以用于确定预报或预测的初值敏感区。应该指出的是,LSV是基于线性化模式,对于描述非线性大气和海洋的运动具有局限性。因而,对于非线性模式,应该选择使用CNOP-I估计最大预报误差。Lyapunov指数和非线性局部Lyapunov指数可以用于研究第一类可预报性问题中的预报时限问题,前者是基于线性模式,不能解释非线性对预报时限的影响,而非线性局部Lyapunov指数方法则考虑了非线性的影响,能够较好地估计实际天气和气候的预报时限。第二类可预报性问题的研究方法相对较少,本文仅介绍了由我国科学家提出的关于模式参数扰动的条件非线性最优参数扰动（CNOP-P）方法,该方法可以用于寻找到对预报有最大影响的参数扰动,并可以进一步确定哪些参数最应该利用观测资料进行校准。另一方面,通过对比CNOP-I和CNOP-P对预报误差的影响,可以判断导致预报不确定性的主要误差因子,进而指导人们着力改进模式或者初始场。     

2010年西北太平洋台风预报精度评定及分析

按照《台风业务和服务规定》的相关要求,本文对2010年中央气象台编号的14个台风（即1001～1014号西北太平洋热带气旋,以下统称为台风）的业务定位和业务预报精度进行了评定。评定结果表明：国内各家综合预报24h,48h和72h平均距离误差分别为110.0 km（1392次）、210.6 km（945次）和322.4 km（364次）,比2009年相应预报时效有一定减小。国内外各家数值模式同样本比较显示：欧洲中心数值模式（ECMWF）在不同时效路径预报中均表现最好,日本数值模式（JAPN）表现其次。相对于国内各家数值模式,上述两家国外模式的路径预报表现出一定优势。进一步分析发现我国各数值模式与ECMWF模式更大的路径预报水平差距是由于台风移动方向预报差距,而台风移动速度预报相对较好;而日本数值与ECMWF模式的差距更主要的体现在移动速度方面。我国各家模式与ECMWF数值模式初始时效（12 h和24 h）的预报差距比后续预报时效（36 h和48 h）大。随着预报时效延长,国内数值模式与ECMWF模式的预报差距逐步减小。     

The Sensitive Regions Identified by CNOPs of Three Typhoon Events

In this paper, several sets of observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) were designed for three typhoon cases to determine whether or not the additional observation data in the sensitive regions identified by conditional nonlinear optimal perturbations (CNOPs) could improve the short-range forecast of typhoons. The results show that the CNOPs capture the sensitive regions for typhoon forecasts, which implies that conducting additional observation in these specific regions and eliminating initial errors could reduce forecast errors. It is inferred from the results that dropping sondes in the CNOP sensitive regions could lead to improvements in typhoon forecasts.     

Targeted Observations for Improving Prediction of the NAO Onset

Based on the viewpoint that the North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO) has an intrinsic timescale of approximate two weeks and can be treated as an initial value problem, targeted observations for improving the prediction of the onset of NAO events are investigated by using the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation(CNOP) method with a quasigeostrophic model. The results show that flow-dependent sensitive areas for the prediction of NAO onset are mainly located over North Atlantic and its upstream regions. Targeted observations over the main sensitive areas could improve NAO onset prediction in most cases(approximately 75%) due to reduced errors in anomalous eddy vorticity forcing(EVF) projection in the typical NAO mode. Moreover, a flow-independent sensitive area is determined based on the winter climatological flow, which is located over North America and its adjacent ocean. The NAO onset prediction can also be improved by targeted observations over the flow-independent sensitive area, but the skill improvement is somewhat lower than that derived from observations over the flow-dependent sensitive area. The above results indicate that targeted observations over sensitive areas identified by the CNOP method can help to improve the onset prediction of NAO events.     

集合预报对台风天鹅(2015)远距离暴雨的不确定性研究

2015年8月23—24日期间台风天鹅引发华东中部沿海地区出现暴雨或大暴雨天气。基于欧洲中期天气预报中心的集合预报分析导致此次远距离暴雨预报不确定的关键原因,并利用集合敏感性分析方法研究影响此次暴雨过程的主要天气系统的敏感区域,此外对暴雨发生发展的热动力机制展开探讨,主要结论包括:集合预报对此次台风天鹅引起的远距离暴雨的可预报性明显偏低,仅在暴雨发生前24 h才做出较大调整。在不同起报时次下,当台风路径的系统性偏差最小时,台风降水集合预报也最接近实况,但是进一步的分析表明,台风路径误差与降水量级之间的对应关系并不确定。不同雨量成员组间中低层环流场的对比分析表明:高空槽的预报差异是集合预报不确定的主要原因,高空槽东移加深有利于增加暴雨区的斜压不稳定,也有利于增强对流层低层的水汽输送急流带。500 hPa高度场的敏感性分析表明无论是初始场还是预报场,暴雨区平均降雨量均与高空槽的东移和加深显著相关,且随着预报时次的临近,显著相关区域向低槽下游明显扩大。此外还发现高空槽的东移有利于增强(减弱)暴雨区左(右)侧低层冷空气的强度,使得台风右侧更多暖湿气流向暴雨区输送。     

台风北冕 (0809) 数值预报敏感初始误差研究

基于WRF四维变分伴随模式建立数值预报敏感初始误差计算流程并对台风北冕 (0809) 进行了分析。结果表明:基于线性化近似的伴随敏感分析方法对台风系统在24 h内适用。构造敏感初始误差的参考系数存在一个合理的取值范围,参考系数取为0.08效果最好。在初始场中去除敏感初始误差能够有效减少预报误差,改善台风路径预报效果,依据24 h预报误差计算出的敏感初始误差订正对24 h后台风数值预报效果也有明显影响。另外,敏感初始误差分布在台风中心附近,伴随台风系统环流且各物理量分布形态相似。对流层下层和中上层的敏感初始误差均对数值预报效果有所影响,对流层中上层的作用略大于对流层下层。敏感初始误差中各物理量对数值预报改善的贡献各不相同,相对而言,风场的贡献最大。     

Adaptive observations for hurricane prediction

Summary This study proposes a method that can be used to provide guidelines to aircraft reconnaissance for hurricane observations. The method combines numerical weather prediction (NWP) model with a statistical approach to target adaptive observations over areas where the hurricane predictions are very sensitive to the initial analysis for the NWP-model. A single model experiment is performed using regular initial analysis, while 50 other ensemble runs are performed from randomly perturbed initial states. Under the perfect model assumption, the single model experiment serves as a true state. The method first computes the forecast error variances at a certain verification time, e.g. hour 48, and then locates the maximum centers of variances. After the locations of the maximum forecast error variances are known, various correlations of different variables between these maximum variance points and the perturbation fields at the target time, e.g. hour 12, are calculated to identify those locations at the target time, over where the observational errors might be responsible for the growth of forecast error variances at the verification time. Statistically, these correlation fields indicate where the most sensitive areas are at the target time, i.e. where the need for additional observations is suggested. Hurricane Fran of 1996 is used to test the proposed method. The reason for choosing this case is that, during the first 48 hour forecast, the track forecast from NWP-model was very close to the best track. Two additional experiments were designed to examine the method. One experiment updates predicted variables at the target time (12 h) over the areas, to where the proposed method indicates the forecast would be sensitive. The updating combines observations (or truth) with the first guess (predicted) fields. Another experiment also modifies predicted variables at the target time (12 h), but over the areas where the method indicates the forecast errors are less correlated to. The results show that the modification has greatly reduced the forecast error variances at the verification time (48 h) in the first experiment, however it has a very little impact on the variance fields at the forecast hour (48 h) in the second experiment. It is very clear from our experiments, that the proposed method is able to identify sensitive areas, where additional observations can help to reduce hurricane forecast errors from an NWP-model. Received July 19, 1999 Revised November 28, 1999     

CONDITIONAL NONLINEAR OPTIMAL PERTURBATIONS: APPLICATION IN TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECASTS

Considering the feature of tropical cyclones (TCs) that strong positive vorticity exists in the lower layers of troposphere, this study proposed to use vorticity at 850 hPa as cost function to find the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP), which was largely different from those previous studies using total energy of perturbed forecast variables. The CNOP was obtained by an ensemble-based approach. All of the sensitive areas determined by CNOP with vorticity at 850 hPa as cost function for the three cases were located over the TC core region and its vicinity. The impact of the CNOP-based adaptive observations on TC forecasts was evaluated with three cases via observational system simulation experiments (OSSEs). Results showed obvious improvements in TC intensity or track forecasts due to the CNOP-based adaptive observations, which were related to the main error source of the verification area, i.e., intensity error or location error.     

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.     

Application of Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbation to Targeted Observation Studies of the Atmosphere and Ocean

This paper reviews progress in the application of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation to targeted observation studies of the atmosphere and ocean in recent years, with a focus on the E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO）, Kuroshio path variations, and blocking events. Through studying the optimal precursor （OPR） and optimally growing initial error （OGE） of the occurrence of the above events, the similarity and localization features of OPR and OGE spatial structures have been found for each event. Ideal hindcasting experiments have shown that, if initial errors are reduced in the areas with the largest amplitude for the OPR and OGE for ENSO and Kuroshio path variations, the forecast skill of the model for these events is significantly improved. Due to the similarity between patterns of the OPR and OGE, additional observations implemented in the same sensitive region would help to not only capture the precursors, but also reduce the initial errors in the predictions, greatly increasing the forecast abilities. The similarity and localization of the spatial structures of the OPR and OGE during the onset of blocking events have also been investigated, but their application to targeted observation requires further study.     

A Comparison Study of the Contributions of Additional Observations in the Sensitive Regions Identified by CNOP and FSV to Reducing Forecast Error Variance for the Typhoon Morakot

The sensitive regions of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbations (CNOPs) and the first singular vector (FSV) for a northwest Pacific typhoon case are reported in this paper. A large number of probes have been designed in the above regions and the ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF) techniques are utilized to examine which approach can locate more appropriate regions for typhoon adaptive observations. The results show that, in general, the majority of the probes in the sensitive regions of CNOPs can reduce more forecast error variance than the probes in the sensitive regions of FSV. This implies that adaptive observations in the sensitive regions of CNOPs are more effective than in the sensitive regions of FSV. Furthermore, the reduction of the forecast error variance obtained by the best probe identified by CNOPs is twice the reduction of the forecast error variance obtained by FSV. This implies that dropping sondes, which is the best probe identified by CNOPs, can improve the forecast more than the best probe identified by FSV. These results indicate that the sensitive regions identified by CNOPs are more appropriate for adaptive observations than those identified by FSV.     

Effects of Dropsonde Data in Field Campaigns on Forecasts of Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific in 2020 and the Role of CNOP Sensitivity

Valuable dropsonde data were obtained from multiple field campaigns targeting tropical cyclones, namely Higos,Nangka, Saudel, and Atsani, over the western North Pacific by the Hong Kong Observatory and Taiwan Central Weather Bureau in 2020. The conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation(CNOP) method has been utilized in real-time to identify the sensitive regions for targeting observations adhering to the procedure of real-time field campaigns for the first time. The observing system experiments...     

Using soil moisture forecasts for sub-seasonal summer temperature predictions in Europe

Soil moisture exhibits outstanding memory characteristics and plays a key role within the climate system. Especially through its impacts on the evapotranspiration of soils and plants, it may influence the land energy balance and therefore surface temperature. These attributes make soil moisture an important variable in the context of weather and climate forecasting. In this study we investigate the value of (initial) soil moisture information for sub-seasonal temperature forecasts. For this purpose we employ a simple water balance model to infer soil moisture from streamflow observations in 400 catchments across Europe. Running this model with forecasted atmospheric forcing, we derive soil moisture forecasts, which we then translate into temperature forecasts using simple linear relationships. The resulting temperature forecasts show skill beyond climatology up to 2 weeks in most of the considered catchments. Even if forecasting skills are rather small at longer lead times with significant skill only in some catchments at lead times of 3 and 4 weeks, this soil moisture-based approach shows local improvements compared to the monthly European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) temperature forecasts at these lead times. For both products (soil moisture-only forecast and ECMWF forecast), we find comparable or better forecast performance in the case of extreme events, especially at long lead times. Even though a product based on soil moisture information alone is not of practical relevance, our results indicate that soil moisture (memory) is a potentially valuable contributor to temperature forecast skill. Investigating the underlying soil moisture of the ECMWF forecasts we find good agreement with the simple model forecasts, especially at longer lead times. Analyzing the drivers of the temperature forecast skills we find that they are mainly controlled by the strengths of (1) the soil moisture-temperature coupling and (2) the soil moisture memory. We find a negative relationship between these controls that weakens the forecast skills, nevertheless there is a middle ground between both controls in several catchments, as shown by our results.     

Uncertainty analysis using the WRF maximum likelihood ensemble filter system and comparison with dropwindsonde observations in Typhoon Sinlaku (2008)

In this study, the maximum likelihood ensemble filter (MLEF) is applied to a tropical cyclone case to identify the uncertainty areas in the context of targeting observations, using the WRF model. Typhoon Sinlaku (2008), from which dropwindsonde data are collected through THORPEX Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (TPARC), is selected for the case study. For the uncertainty analysis, a measurement called the deep layer mean (DLM) wind variance is employed. With assimilation of conventional rawinsonde data, the MLEF-WRF system demonstrated stable data assimilation performance over multiple data assimilation cycles and produced high uncertainties mostly in data-void areas, for the given tropical cyclone case. Dropwindsonde deployment through T-PARC turned out to occur inside or near the weak uncertainty areas that are identified through the MLEF-WRF system. The uncertainty analysis using the MLEF method can provide a guide for identifying more effective targeting observation areas.