Easterly wave regimes and associated convection over West Africa and tropical Atlantic: results from the NCEP/NCAR and ECMWF reanalyses

 NCEP/NCAR and ECMWF daily reanalyses are used to investigate the synoptic variability of easterly waves over West Africa and tropical Atlantic at 700 hPa in northern summer between 1979–1995 (1979–1993 for ECMWF). Spectral analysis of the meridional wind component at 700 hPa highlighted two main periodicity bands, between 3 and 5 days, and 6 and 9 days. The 3–5-day easterly wave regime has already been widely investigated, but only on shorter datasets. These waves grow both north and south of the African Easterly Jet (AEJ). The two main tracks, noted over West Africa at 5 °N and 15 °N, converge over the Atlantic on latitude 17.5 °N. These waves are more active in August–September than in June–July. Their average wavelength/phase speed varies from about 3000 km/8 m s^-1 north of the jet to 5000 km/12 m s^-1 south of the jet. Rainfall, convection and monsoon flux are significantly modulated by these waves, convection in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) being enhanced in the trough and ahead of it, with a wide meridional extension. Compared to the 3–5-day waves, the 6–9-day regime is intermittent and the corresponding wind field pattern has both similar and contrasting characteristics. The only main track is located north of the AEJ along 17.5 °N both over West Africa and the Atlantic. The mean wavelength is higher, about 5000 km long, and the average phase speed is about 7 m s^-1. Then the wind field perturbation is mostly evident at the AEJ latitude and north of it. The perturbation structure is similar to that of 3–5-days in the north except that the more developed circulation centers, moving more to the north, lead to a large modulation of the jet zonal wind component. South of the AEJ, the wind field perturbation is weaker and quite different. The zonal wind core of the jet appears to be an almost symmetric axis in the 6–9-day wind field pattern, a clockwise circulation north of the AEJ being associated with a counter-clockwise circulation south of the jet, and vice versa. These 6–9-day easterly waves also affect significantly rainfall, convection and monsoon flux but in a different way, inducing large zonal convective bands in the ITCZ, mostly in the trough and behind it. As opposed to the 3–5-day wave regime, these rainfall anomalies are associated with anomalies of opposite sign over the Guinea coast and the Sahelian regions. Over the continent, these waves are more active in June–July, and in August–September over the ocean. GATE phase I gave an example of such an active 6–9-day wave pattern. Considered as a sequence of weak easterly wave activity, this phase was also a sequence of high 6–9-day easterly wave activity. We suggest that the 6–9-day regime results from an interaction between the 3–5-day easterly wave regime (maintained by the barotropic/baroclinic instability of the AEJ), and the development of strong anticyclonic circulations, north of the jet over West Africa, and both north and south of the jet over the Atlantic, significantly affecting the jet zonal wind component. The permanent subtropical anticyclones (Azores, Libya, St Helena) could help initiation and maintenance of such regime over West Africa and tropical Atlantic. Based on an a priori period-band criterion, our synoptic classification has enabled us to point out two statistical and meteorological easterly wave regimes over West Africa and tropical Atlantic. NCEP/NCAR and ECMWF reanalyses are in good agreement, the main difference being a more developed easterly wave activity in the NCEP/NCAR reanalyses, especially for the 3–5-day regime over the Atlantic. Received: 28 May 1998 / Accepted: 2 May 1999     

Composite patterns of easterly disturbances over West Africa and the tropical Atlantic: a climatology from the 1979–95 NCEP/NCAR reanalyses

 The horizontal and vertical structure of the 3–5-day and 6–9-day easterly waves over West Africa and tropical Atlantic are investigated. NCEP/NCAR reanalyses are used for the period 1979–1995 to produce a 17-year climatology of both 3–5-day and 6–9-day easterly waves. Composite patterns of convection, wind, temperature and vertical velocity are analysed with respect to the following: the modulation by 3–5-day and 6–9-day wave regimes; the contrasts between the ITCZ (5°N–10°N) and the Sahelo-Saharan band (15°N–20°N); the difference between land and ocean, and seasonal variations. Similarities and differences in the characteristics of the two wave regimes are identified. Received: 18 August 1999 / Accepted: 14 March 2001     

Evaluation of the atmospheric moisture and hydrological cycle in the NCEP/NCAR reanalyses

An evaluation is carried out of the moisture fields, the precipitation P and evaporation E, and the moisture transport and divergence in the atmosphere from the global atmospheric National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)–NCAR reanalyses produced with four-dimensional-data assimilation. The moisture fields are summarized by the precipitable water which is compared with analyzed fields from NVAP based primarily on Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) over the oceans and rawinsonde measurements over land, plus TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS). The moisture budgets are evaluated through computation of the freshwater flux at the surface E?P from the divergence of the total moisture transport, and this is compared with the reanalysis E?P that is based upon a 6-hour integration of the assimilating model and thus depends on the model parametrizations. The P field is evaluated using Xie– Arkin global precipitation estimates which, although containing considerable uncertainties, are believed to be reliable and good enough to show that there are substantial biases in the NCEP P. There are many fields of interest and which are improved over previous information available. On an annual mean basis the largest evaporation of over 6?mm/day is in the subtropical Indian Ocean. However, the NCEP moisture fields are shown to contain large and significant biases in the tropics. The tropical structures are less well defined and values are generally smaller where they should be high and higher where they should be low. In addition, the NCEP moisture fields contain less variability from year to year. The NCEP model P generally reveals a double intertropical convergence zone in the central Pacific and the location of the South Pacific Convergence Zone is not well captured. Rainfall amounts are lower than observed in the oceanic tropical convergence zones. The variability in the central tropical Pacific of P associated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is underestimated in the NCEP reanalyses and, moreover, is not very well correlated with the Xie–Arkin product. A bias for too much rainfall in the model over the southeastern USA and southeast Asia is also present in northern summer. The comparison of E?P from the moisture budget with the model results reveal some strong systematic differences. In particular, remarkably, many island stations show up as bull’s-eyes in the difference field. These are identified as originating from small but systematic differences in vertical moisture profiles from those in the surrounding oceans, raising questions about the influence radius of rawinsonde moisture observations. Biases in E are inferred from the E?P differences in some places implying some spurious land moisture sources. While usually better, the residual method E?P estimates are inferior to those from the model parametrizations in some places. Both estimates are affected by biases in moisture, as analyzed, and the moisture divergence depends critically on the velocity divergence field. The model estimates also depend upon the parametrizations of subgrid scale processes, such as convection, that influence E and P. A discussion is given of sources of errors contributing to the moisture budgets.     

Climatology and interannual variability of storm-tracks in the Euro-Atlantic sector: a comparison between ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR reanalyses

An objective methodology is applied to ERA-40 (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 40-year Reanalysis) and NCEP/NCAR (National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research) reanalyses, to build two storm-track databases for the Euro-Atlantic sector (85°W–70°E; 20°N–75°N), spanning the period December 1958–March 2000. The technique uses the full temporal (6-hourly) and spatial resolutions (1.125° and 2.5° regular grids, for ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR, respectively) available. It is shown that the strong discrepancies in the number of storms in each dataset (higher for ERA-40) result from differences in the resolution of the fields subject to the storm detecting/tracking algorithm, and also from the characteristics of the integration models and assimilation schemes used for each reanalysis. An intercomparison of ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR storm-tracks is performed for spatial distribution, and main characteristics, of the overall cyclone population and of a class of severe storms—explosive cyclones. Despite the discrepancies in storm numbers, both reanalyses agree on the main cyclone activity areas (formation, minimum central pressure, and lysis). The most pronounced differences occur where subsynoptic systems are frequent, as these are better resolved by ERA-40 data. The interannual variability of cyclone counts, analysed per intensity classes and for different regions of the domain, reveals reasonable agreement between the two datasets on the sign of trends (generally positive in northern latitudes, and negative in the Azores-Mediterranean band), but discrepancies regarding their strength in the most southern areas, where the mismatches between ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR detected lows are greatest. Submitted to Climate Dynamics in December 2004     

Western Himalayan snow cover and Indian monsoon rainfall: A re-examination with INSAT and NCEP/NCAR data

Summary ?This study presents the monthly climatology and variability of the INSAT (Indian National Satellite) derived snow cover estimates over the western Himalayan region. The winter/spring snow estimates over the region are related to the subsequent summer monsoon rainfall over India. The NCEP/NCAR data are used to understand the physical mechanism of the snow-monsoon links. 15 years (1986–2000) of recent data are utilized to investigate these features in the present global warming environment. Results reveal that the spring snow cover area has been declining and snow has been melting faster from winter to spring after 1993. Connections between snow cover estimates and Indian monsoon rainfall (IMR) show that spring snow cover area is negatively related with maximum during May, while snow melt during the February–May period is positively related with subsequent IMR, implying that smaller snow cover area during May and faster snow melt from winter to spring is conducive for good monsoon activity over India. NCEP/NCAR data further shows that the heat low over northwest India and the monsoon circulation over the Indian subcontinent, in particular the cross-equatorial flow, during May are intensified (weakened) when the snow cover area during May is smaller (extensive) and snow melts faster (slower) during the February–May period. The well-documented negative relationship between winter snow and summer rainfall seems to have altered recently and changed to a positive relationship. The changes observed in snow cover extent and snow depth due to global warming may be a possible cause for the weakening winter snow–IMR relationship. Received January 15, 2002; revised May 5, 2002; accepted June 23, 2002     

青藏高原地区上空NCEP/NCAR再分析温度和位势高度资料与观测资料的比较分析

利用青藏高原12个探空站资料及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,对各标准等压面上的月平均温度和位势高度资料进行了比较,结果表明:NCEP/NCAR再分析资料能够客观地反映青藏高原上空温度和位势高度多年平均的气候特征;与实际探空资料相比,在年际变化中再分析资料的温度和位势高度也具有较高的可信度;但在长期趋势变化上,再分析资料在青藏高原对流层低层存在着明显虚假的变化趋势.总之,再分析温度和位势高度资料在青藏高原气候研究中有较高的参考价值,尤其是1979年后再分析资料的质量在平流层低层得到明显的改善.     

东亚地区500 hPa位势高度场NCEP/NCAR再分析资料与ERA-40资料的比较

运用统计分析方法对3份500 hPa位势高度场资料,即NCEP/NCAR全球大气再分析月平均资料和欧洲中心ERA-40资料,国家气候中心的NMC资料(该资料的基础是站点观测资料的实测数据,并结合中央气象台的日常累积资料整编而成)进行比较,以讨论NCEP/NCAR再分析资料与ERA-40资料以及NMC资料的相关性,尤其在东亚地区的可靠性.3份资料综合分析得到如下结论:在东亚地区,特别是贝加尔湖以南至中国西北和中西部的大部分区域内(30°-50°N,80°-115°E),NCEP/NCAR资料和ERA-40资料各季的平均场、相关场均存在大范围的显著性差异区,差异最大的季节在夏季,时段为1958-1970年,而在冬季相关较好.同时NCEP/NCAR资料在20世纪60年代初出现异常低值,在60年代中期有突然的增长,而欧洲中心的ERA-40资料和国家气候中心的NMC资料均无此现象.针对以上问题,对北半球500 hPa资料的使用提出如下建议:在东亚地区应用NCEP/NCAR资料时,如果范围涉及贝加尔湖以南至中国西北和中西部地区(30°-50°N,80°-115°E),尽量应用20世纪70年代以后的资料,尤其在春、夏两季;而该区域内的ERA-40资料和NMC资料在这一时段内是基本一致,具有可信性.     

Extratropical cyclone variability in the Northern Hemisphere winter from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data

 The winter climatology of Northern Hemisphere cyclone activity was derived from 6-hourly NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for the period from 1958 to 1999, using software which provides improved accuracy in cyclone identification in comparison to numerical tracking schemes. Cyclone characteristics over the Kuroshio and Gulfstream are very different to those over continental North America and the Arctic. Analysis of Northern Hemisphere cyclones shows secular and decadal-scale changes in cyclone frequency, intensity, lifetime and deepening rates. The western Pacific and Atlantic are characterized by an increase in cyclone intensity and deepening during the 42-year period, although the eastern Pacific and continental North America demonstrate opposite tendencies in most cyclone characteristics. There is an increase of the number of cyclones in the Arctic and in the western Pacific and a downward tendency over the Gulf Stream and subpolar Pacific. Decadal scale variability in cyclone activity over the Atlantic and Pacific exhibits south-north dipole-like patterns. Atlantic and Pacific cyclone activity associated with the NAO and PNA is analyzed. Atlantic cyclone frequency demonstrates a high correlation with NAO and reflects the NAO shift in the mid 1970s, associated with considerable changes in European storm tracks. The PNA is largely linked to the eastern Pacific cyclone frequencies, and controls cyclone activity over the Gulf region and the North American coast during the last two decades. Assessment of the accuracy of the results and comparison with those derived using numerical algorithms, shows that biases inherent in numerical procedures are not negligible. Received: 7 July 2000 / Accepted: 30 November 2000     

国外几套再分析资料的对比与分析

针对目前最主要的3种再分析资料NCEP、ECMWF、JMA,从各家再分析中心所采用的同化方案、所用到的数据、质量控制方法及相关的偏差校正方法方面,进行相关介绍和对比,以便对再分析资料的特点有更为充分的了解,对我国未来再分析工作的发展起到借鉴作用。通过对比发现,各家再分析中心采用的同化方案主要为三维、四维变分方法和最优插值法。各家最主要的差别在于所选用的数据类型不同,以及所采用模式在分辨率上的差异。此外,还从经验出发简要给出了各类再分析资料在不同方面的优缺点,从而为各类再分析资料的选择使用方面提供参考。简单陈述了国内再分析工作的进展,并给出了提高我国再分析工作质量所需要关注和亟待解决的问题。     

3种再分析资料基本统计量比较

为了评估中国气象部门整理的资料的特色和应用价值,使用统计方法检验了中国资料和NCEP/NCAR、ECMWF再分析资料7月100 hPa、500 hPa位势高度场和1月海平面气压场的气候均值和年际方差的差异显著性,并比较了1月和7月北半球主要大气活动中心面积、强度指数的年际变化差异和相关程度。结果表明：1）ECMWF再分析资料7月100 hPa、500 hPa位势高度场的气候均值都显著小于中国资料,且其历年值分别小于1 660、588 dagpm,与中国资料相比不适合用于研究南亚高压、副热带高压;2）中国资料是由单层等压面图上直接读数得到的,更接近实际观测值,更适宜于诊断单个等压面上的气压系统;3）3种资料冬季蒙古高压、阿留申低压的年际变化一致性要好于夏季南亚高压、副热带高压。     

Climatological aspects of convective parameters from the NCAR/NCEP reanalysis

Annual cycles of convectively important atmospheric parameters have been computed for a variety of from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)/National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) global reanalysis, using 7 years of reanalysis data. Regions in the central United States show stronger seasonality in combinations of thermodynamic parameters than found elsewhere in North America or Europe. As a result, there is a period of time in spring and early summer when climatological mean conditions are supportive of severe thunderstorms.The annual cycles help in understanding the large-scale processes that lead to the combination of atmospheric ingredients necessary for strong convection. This, in turn, lays groundwork for possible changes in distribution of the environments associated with possible global climate change.     

比较NCEP/NCAR和ERA-40再分析资料与观测资料计算得到的感热资料的差异

利用1951～2000年我国西北干旱、半干旱区地温、气温和表面风场逐日4个时次（北京时间2、8、14和20时）的台站观测资料,以及NCEP/NCAR和ERA-40再分析资料,计算并比较了在我国西北地区春夏季感热输送的差异。分析结果表明:NCEP/NCAR和ERA-40的感热输送再分析资料都能显示出我国西北地区是欧亚大陆上的感热中心之一。从年代际时间尺度上,ERA-40再分析资料的感热资料更接近于实际台站观测资料计算得到的感热资料。       

The Hadley circulation: assessing NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and sparse in-situ estimates

 We present a comparison of the zonal mean meridional circulations derived from monthly in situ data (i.e. radiosondes and ship reports) and from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis product. To facilitate the interpretation of the results, a third estimate of the mean meridional circulation is produced by subsampling the reanalysis at the locations where radiosonde and surface ship data are available for the in situ calculation. This third estimate, known as the subsampled estimate, is compared to the complete reanalysis estimate to assess biases in conventional, in situ estimates of the Hadley circulation associated with the sparseness of the data sources (i.e., radiosonde network). The subsampled estimate is also compared to the in situ estimate to assess the biases introduced into the reanalysis product by the numerical model, initialization process and/or indirect data sources such as satellite retrievals. The comparisons suggest that a number of qualitative differences between the in situ and reanalysis estimates are mainly associated with the sparse sampling and simplified interpolation schemes associated with in situ estimates. These differences include: (1) a southern Hadley cell that consistently extends up to 200 hPa in the reanalysis, whereas the bulk of the circulation for the in situ and subsampled estimates tends to be confined to the lower half of the troposphere, (2) more well-defined and consistent poleward limits of the Hadley cells in the reanalysis compared to the in-situ and subsampled estimates, and (3) considerably less variability in magnitude and latitudinal extent of the Ferrel cells and southern polar cell exhibited in the reanalysis estimate compared to the in situ and subsampled estimates. Quantitative comparison shows that the subsampled estimate, relative to the reanalysis estimate, produces a stronger northern Hadley cell (∼20%), a weaker southern Hadley cell (∼20–60%), and weaker Ferrel cells in both hemispheres. These differences stem from poorly measured oceanic regions which necessitate significant interpolation over broad regions. Moreover, they help to pinpoint specific shortcomings in the present and previous in situ estimates of the Hadley circulation. Comparisons between the subsampled and in situ estimates suggest that the subsampled estimate produces a slightly stronger Hadley circulation in both hemispheres, with the relative differences in some seasons as large as 20–30%. 6These differences suggest that the mean meridional circulation associated with the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis is more energetic than observations suggest. Examination of ENSO-related changes to the Hadley circulation suggest that the in situ and subsampled estimates significantly overestimate the effects of ENSO on the Hadley circulation due to the reliance on sparsely distributed data. While all three estimates capture the large-scale region of low-level equatorial convergence near the dateline that occurs during El Nino, the in situ and subsampled estimates fail to effectively reproduce the large-scale areas of equatorial mass divergence to the west and east of this convergence area, leading to an overestimate of the effects of ENSO on the zonal mean circulation. Received: 16 September 1998 / Accepted: 22 April 1999     

ERA-Interim和NCEP/NCAR再分析数据气温和气压值在中天山山区适用性分析

利用在天山山区海拔超过1 500 m的气象站的逐日气温和气压数据与同期经过水平方向和垂直方向插值后ERA-Interim和NCEP/NCAR两套再分析数据进行回归分析,研究再分析数据在天山山区不同季节的适用性,并验证再分析数据偏差与气候区的一致性。结果表明:从整体上,ERA-Interim数据气压和气温的可信度优于NCEP/NCAR数据,但在局部存在差异。两套再分析数据的偏差与气候分区、高程和季节相关。中天山山区再分析数据气温偏差呈现暖偏差,而天山南坡呈现冷偏差。两套再分析数据的气温偏差在高山带呈现暖偏差,在中山带呈现冷偏差。春秋两季气温的偏差小于夏冬两季。气压的偏差在夏季低于其他三季。而偏差可能会导致以再分析数据为驱动的气候模式结果的偏差。     

On the Role of the Cross Equatorial Flow on Summer MonsoonRainfall over India using NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Data

Summary  The role of the cross equatorial flow from the southern Indian Ocean on the Indian Summer monsoon is examined using the National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) data for the period January 1982 to December 1994. A comparison of NCEP/NCAR data with the satellite data retrieved from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) sensor onboard the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) exhibited a negative bias for the wind speeds greater than 4 m/s. whereas in the case of specific humidity, SSMI values exhibited a positive bias and the precipitable water derived from the satellite data exhibited a negative bias. The NCEP reanalysis is able to depict the mean annual cycle of both the cross equatorial flow and moisture flow into the Indian subcontinent during the monsoon season, but it fails to depict these differences during excess (1983, 1988, 1994) and deficit monsoon (1982, 1986, 1987) composites. Further, it is seen that inter hemispheric flow far exceeds the excess moisture available over the Arabian Sea indicating that it is the cross equatorial flow which decides the fate of the Indian summer monsoon. Received September 29, 1998 Revised May 20, 1999     

NCEP/NCAR FNL资料在强对流天气中可信度的初步分析

基于NCEP/NCAR FNL(1°×1°)资料已成为研究强对流天气触发机制、演变等特征的基础资料,有必要分析该资料在强对流天气中的可信度。利用山西岢岚地区2005-2014年共414个强对流天气日的NCEP/NCAR FNL(1°×1°)资料与探空资料,采用偏差、绝对差、相关系数和偏差区间占有率的统计方法,对常用的常规气象要素、诊断量进行统计分析,结果表明:1)在常规气象要素中,温度的可信度最高,而相对湿度的可信度最低,纬向风和经向风的可信度相差不大,均略低于温度的可信度。2)总体上,诊断量的可信度不如常规气象要素的,其中,K指数偏差值在[-5,5]内占总数的57. 25%,沙氏指数SI偏差值在[-3,3]内占总数的75. 12%,对流有效位能CAPE偏差值在[-100,100]内占总数的78. 26%,风暴强度指数SSI偏差值在[-10,10]内占总数的62. 08%。因此,虽然NCEP/NCAR FNL资料中的常规气象要素可信度较高,但与强对流天气存在紧密联系的诊断量却存在较大偏差和绝对差,其可信度较低,若以其进行强对流天气机理的诊断分析,需注意该资料的这种特征。     

Comparison of surface variables from ERA and NCEP reanalysis with station data over eastern China

This study compared precipitation, mean air temperature (MAT) and mean sea level pressure (MSLP) from two widely used reanalysis datasets (ERA-40 and NCEP) with those from observed stations across eastern China. The evaluation was based on a comparison of both temporal and spatial variability and included several assessment criteria such as the mean values, normalized root mean square error, Mann–Kendall test, empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) and probability density functions. The results showed that both the ERA-40 and NCEP datasets could capture temporal and spatial variability of the observed precipitation, MAT and MSLP over eastern China. The results showed that the two reanalysis datasets performed better for MAT and MSLP than for precipitation. Overall, the two reanalysis datasets revealed reasonable agreement with observations according to the evaluation. ERA-40 was better at capturing the temporal and spatial distributions for these three variables than NCEP, especially for MAT and MSLP. NCEP tended to overestimate the annual precipitation for both mean and extreme values, while ERA-40 tended to underestimate it, particularly for extreme values. The two reanalysis datasets performed better in the east and northeast regions of the study area than in other regions for capturing the temporal variability of MAT and MSLP. ERA-40 was poor at capturing the temporal variability of precipitation in northeastern China. According to the trend analysis, the two reanalysis datasets showed lower trends for MAT and precipitation and higher trends for MSLP. Both ERA-40 and NCEP had larger explained variances for the first two EOFs than the observed precipitation. This implies that both reanalysis datasets tend to simulate a more uniform spatial distribution for precipitation in the study area.