A Comparison Study of Tropical Pacific Ocean State Estimation： Low-Resolution Assimilation vs. High-Resolution Simulation

A comparison study is performed to contrast the improvements in the tropical Pacific oceanic state of a low-resolution model respectively via data assimilation and by an increase in horizontal resolution.A low resolution model (LR) (1°lat by 2°lon) and a high-resolution model (HR) (0.5°lat by 0.5°lon) are employed for the comparison. The authors perform 20-yr numerical experiments and analyze the annual mean fields of temperature and salinity. The results indicate that the low-resolution model with data assimilation behaves better than the high-resolution model in the estimation of ocean large-scale features.From 1990 to 2000, the average of HR's RMSE (root-mean-square error) relative to independent Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project (TAO) mooring data at randomly selected points is 0.97℃ compared to a RMSE of 0.56℃ for LR with temperature assimilation. Moreover, the LR with data assimilation is more frugal in computation. Although there is room to improve the high-resolution model, the low-resolution model with data assimilation may be an advisable choice in achieving a more realistic large-scale state of the ocean at the limited level of information provided by the current observational system.     

A Multivariate Empirical Orthogonal Function-Based Scheme for the Balanced Initial Ensemble Generation of an Ensemble Kalman Filter

The initial ensemble perturbations for an ensemble data assimilation system are expected to reasonably sample model uncertainty at the time of analysis to further reduce analysis uncertainty. Therefore, the careful choice of an initial ensemble perturbation method that dynamically cycles ensemble perturbations is required for the optimal performance of the system. Based on the multivariate empirical orthogonal function (MEOF) method, a new ensemble initialization scheme is developed to generate balanced initial perturbations for the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation, with a reasonable consideration of the physical relationships between different model variables. The scheme is applied in assimilation experiments with a global spectral atmospheric model and with real observations. The proposed perturbation method is compared to the commonly used method of spatially-correlated random perturbations. The comparisons show that the model uncertainties prior to the first analysis time, which are forecasted from the balanced ensemble initial fields, maintain a much more reasonable spread and a more accurate forecast error covariance than those from the randomly perturbed initial fields. The analysis results are further improved by the balanced ensemble initialization scheme due to more accurate background information. Also, a 20-day continuous assimilation experiment shows that the ensemble spreads for each model variable are still retained in reasonable ranges without considering additional perturbations or inflations during the assimilation cycles, while the ensemble spreads from the randomly perturbed initialization scheme decrease and collapse rapidly.     

IMPROVEMENT OF OCEAN DATA ASSIMILATION SYSTEM AND CLIMATE PREDICTION BY ASSIMILATING ARGO DATA

The Argo(Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography) data from 1998 to 2003 were used in the Beijing Climate Center-Global Ocean Data Assimilation System(BCC-GODAS). The results show that the utilization of Argo global ocean data in BCC-GODAS brings about remarkable improvements in assimilation effects. The assimilated sea surface temperature(SST) of BCC-GODAS can well represent the climatological states of observational data. Comparison experiments based on a global coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model(AOCGM) were conducted for exploring the roles of ocean data assimilation system with or without Argo data in improving the climate predictability of rainfall in boreal summer. Firstly, the global ocean data assimilation system BCC-GODAS was used to obtain ocean assimilation data under the conditions with or without Argo data. Then, the global coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model(AOCGM) was utilized to do hindcast experiments with the two sets of the assimilation data as initial oceanic fields. The simulated results demonstrate that the seasonal predictability of rainfall in boreal summer, particularly in China, increases greatly when initial oceanic conditions with Argo data are utilized. The distribution of summer rainfall in China hindcast by the AOGCM under the condition when Argo data are used is more in accordance with observation than that when no Agro data are used. The area of positive correlation between hindcast and observation enlarges and the hindcast skill of rainfall over China in summer improves significantly when Argo data are used.     

ASSIMILATION OF OBSERVED SURFACE WIND WITH GRAPES

With the advances of numerical weather simulation and reduced data assimilation updating cycle, surface observation data assimilation becomes more and more important in data assimilation systems. It is widely accepted that a better data assimilation system should contain the restriction of thermodynamic processes in the surface layer. Therefore, in this paper, a new surface wind observation operator is utilized in Global and Regional Assimilation PrEdiction System_3D-Variance (GRAPES_3D-Var), with the restriction of thermodynamic process in the planetary boundary layer (PBL). In order to research the ability of this new surface wind observation operator in assimilation and forecasting, a series of experiments are operated by using the GRAPES model. The main results indicate that this new method of surface wind observation operator has positive impact on the forecast with the GRAPES model.     

THE LIMITED AREA ANALYSIS AND FORECAST SYSTEM AND ITS OPERATIONAL APPLICATION

The limited area analysis and forecast system(LAFS)was developed and has been put intooperational use at National Meteorological Center since January 1991.This system can be regardedas a branch system attached to the global assimilation and medium-range forecast system which isbased on a spectral model T42L9.The main advancements as an upgrade operational system are asfollows:the use of a regional fine mesh optimum interpolation(OI)analysis scheme:the realiza-tion of the nonlinear normal mode initialization for the regional model:the development of a 15L-spherical grid primitive equation model(with real topography and enstrophy conservation)and itsnesting forecast with the spectral model T42L9.     

Evaluating Soil Moisture Predictions Based on Ensemble Kalman Filter and SiB2 Model

Soil moisture is an important variable in the fields of hydrology, meteorology, and agriculture, and has been used for numerous applications and forecasts. Accurate soil moisture predictions on both a large scale and local scale for different soil depths are needed. In this study, a soil moisture assimilation and prediction based on the Ensemble Kalman Filter(EnKF) and Simple Biosphere Model(SiB2) have been performed in Meilin watershed, eastern China, to evaluate the initial state values with different assimilation frequencies and precipitation influences on soil moisture predictions. The assimilated results at the end of the assimilation period with different assimilation frequencies were set to be the initial values for the prediction period. The measured precipitation, randomly generated precipitation,and zero precipitation were used to force the land surface model in the prediction period. Ten cases were considered based on the initial value and precipitation. The results indicate that, for the summer prediction period with the deeper water table depth, the assimilation results with different assimilation frequencies influence soil moisture predictions significantly. The higher assimilation frequency gives better soil moisture predictions for a long lead-time. The soil moisture predictions are affected by precipitation within the prediction period. For a short lead-time, the soil moisture predictions are better for the case with precipitation, but for a long lead-time, they are better without precipitation. For the winter prediction period with a lower water table depth, there are better soil moisture predictions for the whole prediction period. Unlike the summer prediction period, the soil moisture predictions of winter prediction period are not significantly influenced by precipitation. Overall, it is shown that soil moisture assimilations improve its predictions.     

Variational data assimilation experiments of mei-yu front rainstorms in China

The numerical forecasts of mei-yu front rainstorms in China has been an important issue. The intensity and pattern of the frontal rainfall are greatly influenced by the initial fields of the numerical model. The 4-dimensional variational data assimilation technology (4DVAR) can effectively assimilate all kinds of observed data, including rainfall data at the observed stations, so that the initial fields and the precipitation forecast can both be greatly improved. The non-hydrostatic meso-scale model (MM5) and its adjoint model are used to study the development of the mei-yu front rainstorm from 1200 UTC 25 June to 0600 UTC 26 June 1999. By numerical simulation experiments and assimilation experiments, the T106 data and the observed 6-hour rainfall data are assimilated. The influences of many factors, such as the choice of the assimilated variables and the weighting coefficient, on the precipitation forecast results are studied. The numerical results show that 4DVAR is valuable and important to mei-yu front rainfall prediction.     

Assimilation of Sea Surface Temperature in a Global Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model

The Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model(HYCOM) uses different vertical coordinate choices in different regions. In HYCOM, the prognostic variables include not only the seawater temperature, salinity and current fields, but also the layer thickness. All prognostic variables are usually adjusted in the assimilation when multivariate data assimilation methods are used to assimilate sea surface temperature(SST). This paper investigates the effects of SST assimilation in a global HYCOM model using the Ensemble Optimal Interpolation multivariate assimilation method. Three assimilation experiments are conducted from 2006–08. In the first experiment, all model variables are adjusted during the assimilation process. In the other two experiments, the temperature alone is adjusted in the entire water column and in the mixed layer. For comparison, a control experiment without assimilation is also conducted. The three assimilation experiments yield notable SST improvements over the results of the control experiment. Additionally, the experiments in which all variables are adjusted and the temperature alone in all model layers is adjusted, produce significant negative effects on the subsurface temperature. Also, they yield negative effects on the subsurface salinity because it is associated with temperature and layer thickness. The experiment adjusting the temperature alone in the mixed layer yields positive effects and outperforms the other experiments. The heat content in the upper 300 m and 300–700 m layers further suggests that it yields the best performance among the experiments.     

Numerical Weather Prediction in China in the New Century ——Progress, Problems and Prospects

This paper summarizes the recent progress of numerical weather prediction(NWP)research since the last review was published.The new generation NWP system named GRAPES(the Global and Regional Assimila- tion and Prediction System),which consists of variational or sequential data assimilation and nonhydrostatic prediction model with options of configuration for either global or regional domains,is briefly introduced, with stress on their scientific design and preliminary results during pre-operational implementation.In ad- dition to the development of GRAPES,the achievements in new methodologies of data assimilation,new improvements of model physics such as parameterization of clouds and planetary boundary layer,mesoscale ensemble prediction system and numerical prediction of air quality are presented.The scientific issues which should be emphasized for the future are discussed finally.     

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF 3DVAR AND ENSRF DIRECT ASSIMILATION OF RADAR DATA ON THE FORECAST OF A HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT

The present study designs experiments on the direct assimilation of radial velocity and reflectivity data collected by an S-band Doppler weather radar (CINRAD WSR-98D) at the Hefei Station and the reanalysis data produced by the United States National Centers for Environmental Prediction using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, the WRF model with a three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system and the WRF model with an ensemble square root filter (EnSRF) data assimilation system. In addition, the present study analyzes a Meiyu front heavy rainfall process that occurred in the Yangtze -Huaihe River Basin from July 4 to July 5, 2003, through numerical simulation. The results show the following. (1) The assimilation of the radar radial velocity data can increase the perturbations in the low-altitude atmosphere over the heavy rainfall region, enhance the convective activities and reduce excessive simulated precipitation. (2) The 3DVAR assimilation method significantly adjusts the horizontal wind field. The assimilation of the reflectivity data improves the microphysical quantities and dynamic fields in the model. In addition, the assimilation of the radial velocity and reflectivity data can better adjust the wind fields and improve the intensity and location of the simulated radar echo bands. (3) The EnSRF assimilation method can assimilate more small-scale wind field information into the model. The assimilation of the reflectivity data alone can relatively accurately forecast the rainfall centers. In addition, the assimilation of the radial velocity and reflectivity data can improve the location of the simulated radar echo bands. (4) The use of the 3DVAR and EnSRF assimilation methods to assimilate the radar radial velocity and reflectivity data can improve the forecast of precipitation, rain-band areal coverage and the center location and intensity of precipitation.     

雷达资料同化对一次飑线过程的模拟影响

雷达资料同化能够改善强对流天气的预报,但是不同的模式方案配置会得到不同的结果。本文针对中国南部2018年3月4日一次飑线过程,以全球预报模式GFS分析场和预报场为背景场,采用中尺度区域气象预报模式ARPS 3DVAR系统同化多普勒雷达径向速度,用云分析处理反射率数据,考虑同化间隔、频次、云分析中不同参数调整,采用1 h同化窗口,设计不同同化方案,最后用WRF模式进行预报,研究雷达资料同化对飑线系统触发及发展机制的影响。结果表明,同化间隔过短时,由于模式热动力变量没有平衡产生虚假回波,同化间隔过长时,系统触发和发展的特征普遍偏弱;采用12 min间隔同化得到了最好的初始场,并且同化频次越高得到的降水预报结果越好。此外,ARPS云分析能大大改善初始场,减少模式自调整时间,其中湿度调整、温度调整、雨水调整及水汽调整对系统动力过程和水凝物初始场分布都有较大的影响,而垂直速度相关参数调整影响较小。     

循环同化雷达资料对一次飑线系统临近预报的改进作用

利用WRF(Weather Research Forecast)模式及其3D-Var(Three-Dimensional Variational assimilation)变分系统,针对2017年7月7日一次飑线进行了雷达资料的循环同化敏感性试验.结果表明:以循环同化雷达资料至飑线成熟期时刻的试验预报效果最好,主要原因...     

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。     

基于西南涡加密探空资料同化的一次奇异路径耦合低涡大暴雨数值模拟研究

利用WRF模式及WRFDA同化系统,引入业务探空资料和西南涡加密探空资料,对一次四川盆地奇异路径低涡耦合大暴雨过程进行了数值试验,对比检验不同同化试验对本次过程降水和低涡移动路径的模拟能力,分析了加密探空资料同化对西南涡结构及其降水演变的影响。结果表明:在同化业务探空资料的基础上,引入西南涡加密探空资料能改善模式对本次降水和低涡移动路径的模拟,而仅同化业务探空资料对模拟结果的改善作用有限;引入西南涡加密探空资料,一方面能在初始风场上产生气旋式扰动,增加初始高原涡和西南涡的强度,另一方面通过调整初始四川盆地上空大气温、湿度结构,使模式在积分初期就能产生出实况量级的降水;西南涡加密探空资料的同化试验揭示了仅靠高层的高位涡不足以激发和维持700 hPa的西南涡,需要通过低层水平辐合引起正涡度增加并向上输送来增强700 hPa的气旋式环流,进而促进西南涡的移动和发展,而模拟初期降水的潜热释放也起重要作用,加深了对西南涡及其降水成因的认识。      

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。     

Variational Assimilation of GPS Precipitable Water Vapor and Hourly Rainfall Observations for a Meso-β Scale Heavy Precipitation Event During the 2002 Mei-Yu Season

Recent advances in Global Positioning System （GPS） remote sensing technology allow for a direct estimation of the precipitable water vapor （PWV） from delayed signals transmitted by GPS satellites, which can be assimilated into numerical models with four-dimensional variational （4DVAR） data assimilation. A mesoscale model and its 4DVAR system are used to access the impacts of assimilating GPS-PWV and hourly rainfall observations on the short-range prediction of a heavy rainfall event on 20 June 2002. The heavy precipitation was induced by a sequence of meso-β-scale convective systems （MCS） along the mei-yu front in China. The experiments with GPS-PWV assimilation cluster and also eliminated the erroneous rainfall successfully simulated the evolution of the observed MCS systems found in the experiment without 4DVAR assimilation. Experiments with hourly rainfall assimilation performed similarly both on the prediction of MCS initiation and the elimination of erroneous systems, however the MCS dissipated much sooner than it did in observations. It is found that the assimilation-induced moisture perturbation and mesoscale low-level jet are helpful for the MCS generation and development. It is also discovered that spurious gravity waves may post serious limitations for the current 4DVAR algorithm, which would degrade the assimilation efficiency, especially for rainfall data. Sensitivity experiments with different observations, assimilation windows and observation weightings suggest that assimilating GPS-PWV can be quite effective, even with the assimilation window as short as 1 h. On the other hand, assimilating rainfall observations requires extreme cautions on the selection of observation weightings and the control of spurious gravity waves.     

基于守恒重映射的全球非结构网格模式同化及预报初步应用

全球大气模式在发展过程中不断获得改进,并逐渐采用非结构计算网格,如以球面重心Voronoi网格为特点的MPAS-A模式。为改进MPAS-A模式初值,相关的资料同化研究同步在积极开展。本文为实现利用变分方法快速同化多源观测资料的需求,以美国NCEP业务上使用的GSI系统作为同化模块,基于守恒重映射方法进行非结构与结构化球面网格转换,构建了GSI-MPAS同化及预报框架,并进行了网格转换测试和同化预报试验。网格转换检验测试表明,模式物理量的转换误差与其分布特征密切相关,二阶精度守恒重映射转换结果优于一阶精度转换结果。连续一周的滚动循环同化及预报试验表明,基于守恒重映射方法的GSI-MPAS同化及预报框架能够有效同化多源观测资料,改善了初值场的质量并使得MPAS-A预报得到的各个变量更加准确,且对降水预报具有正面效果。进一步分析表明,由于在北半球同化了更多观测资料,所以北半球地区的改进明显优于南半球及赤道地区。     

雷达资料同化对一次浙江初春罕见飑线过程数值模拟的影响分析

针对2019年6月5日重庆地区发生的一次飑线天气过程,利用中尺度WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting)模式和ARPS (The Advanced Regional Prediction System)的3DVAR三维变分同化系统及其ADAS (ARPS Data Assimilation System)云分析系统,探究了不同模式水平分辨率下雷达资料同化对该飑线系统的模拟改进效果。结果表明：(1) 未同化雷达资料时,模式水平分辨率从900 m提高到300 m,模式模拟结果无明显改进。(2) 不同模式水平分辨率下,同化试验的模拟效果相比同化前,对于雷达回波的形状、强度和落区都有一定改善。(3) 使用雷达资料同化的情况下,同时提高模式水平分辨率,能进一步优化调整模式的动力、热力及水汽条件,使得对本次飑线系统的发生发展和组织结构特征的模拟与实况更接近。

     

新世纪初我国数值天气预报的科技创新研究

概要介绍最近5年在国家科技攻关项目“中国气象数值预报系统科技创新研究”框架内所取得的主要成果，重点是卫星等遥感资料在变分同化中的应用，高分辨非静力数值预报模式的发展，全球资料同化与中期数值天气预报系统的发展，数值天气预报系统的模块化与并行计算，数值天气预报新技术的研究等，并扼要介绍我国新一代数值天气预报系统的业务应用试验。最后，对我国数值天气预报的进一步发展做了讨论。     

An Ensemble-Based Three-Dimensional Variational Assimilation Method for Land Data Assimilation

Land surface models are often highly nonlinear with model physics that contain parameterized discontinuities. These model attributes severely limit the application of advanced variational data assimilation methods into land data assimilation. The ensemble Kalman filter （EnKF） has been widely employed for land data assimilation because of its simple conceptual formulation and relative ease of implementation. An updated ensemble-based three-dimensional variational assimilation （En3-DVar） method is proposed for land data assimilation This new method incorporates Monte Carlo sampling strategies into the 3-D variational data assimilation framework. The proper orthogonal decomposition （POD） technique is used to efficiently approximate a forecast ensemble produced by the Monte Carlo method in a 3-D space that uses a set of base vectors that span the ensemble. The data assimilation process is thus significantly simplified. Our assimilation experiments indicate that this new En3-DVar method considerably outperforms the EnKF method by increasing assimilation precision. Furthermore, computational costs for the new En3-DVar method are much lower than for the EnKF method.