Evaluating the impact of lightning data assimilation on mesoscale model simulations of a flash flood inducing storm

Flash floods are associated with highly localized convective storms producing heavy rainfall. Quantitative precipitation forecasting of such storms will potentially benefit from explicit representations of deep moist convection in numerical weather prediction models. However, explicit representation of moist convection is still not viable in operational mesoscale models, which rely on convective parameterizations for issuing short to medium-range forecasts. In this study we evaluate a technique that uses regional Cloud-to-Ground (CG) lightning observations to define areas of deep moist convection in thunderstorms and adjust the model-generated precipitation fields in those regions. The study focuses on a major flash flood inducing storm in central Europe (23 August 2005) that was simulated with the aid of an operational weather forecasting system (POSEIDON system based on Eta/NCEP model). The performance of the technique is assessed using as reference distributed rainfall estimates from a network of radar observations. The results indicate that CG lightning data can offer sufficient information to increase the mesoscale model skill in reproducing local convective precipitation that leads to flash floods. The model error correction is shown to be proportional to the density of lightning occurrence, making the technique potentially suitable for operational forecasting of flash flood inducing thunderstorms.     

An Overview of Research and Forecasting on Rainfall Associated with Landfalling Tropical Cyclones

The ability to forecast heavy rainfall associated with landfalling tropical cyclones (LTCs) can be improved with a better understanding of the mechanism of rainfall rates and distributions of LTCs. Research in the area of LTCs has shown that associated heavy rainfall is related closely to mechanisms such as moisture transport, extratropical transition (ET), interaction with monsoon surge, land surface processes or topographic effects, mesoscale convective system activities within the LTC, and boundary layer energy transfer etc.. LTCs interacting with environmental weather systems, especially the westerly trough and mei-yu front, could change the rainfall rate and distribution associated with these mid-latitude weather systems. Recently improved technologies have contributed to advancements within the areas of quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) and quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF). More specifically, progress has been due primarily to remote sensing observations and mesoscale numerical models which incorporate advanced assimilation techniques. Such progress may provide the tools necessary to improve rainfall forecasting techniques associated with LTCs in the future.     

集合数值预报方法在山洪预报中的初步应用

选取湖南4个典型山洪个例,分析了嵌套模式不同分辨率的预报效果,并采用多物理过程组合的集合预报方法,研究区域集合数值预报技术在山洪预报中的应用。研究指出,单一模式条件下,使用模式嵌套技术提高分辨率,并不能有效地改进对引发山洪灾害的突发强降水过程的预报能力,且这种单一的确定性预报,对暴雨等灾害性天气的预报存在不确定性。集合预报是解决单一预报不确定性提出的新方法,与单一模式提供的确定性预报结果相比,集合预报可为山洪预报提供多种定量预报产品。利用集合平均预报、极值预报,可以引导对山洪采取分类应对措施;集合预报在给出降水分布的同时,还给出伴随预报结果的可信度;概率定量降水预报(PQPF)与水文预报模型结合,可以用于概率水文预报。     

临沂中尺度数值预报系统及应用

介绍了临沂中尺度数值预报系统及预报产品的释用和模式系统应用雷达资料情况,并对2005年6~10月的业务运行结果进行了检验,对小雨和中雨预报效果较好,TS评分较高,对夜间温度预报平均值绝对误差在1.52~2.52℃之间,平均均方根误差在2.01~2.93℃之间。该系统降水预报质量较高,气温预报误差小,准确率高,对定时、定点、定量的精细化预报具有较高的参考价值。应用自主开发的SDAF软件包,对系统的预报产品进行释用,研制了暴雨、空气质量、极端气温、干热风等预报方法。将多普勒雷达回波强度加入模式,改变模式水汽场,明显改进了预报。对径向速度反演降水系统内部风场进入中尺度模式进行了初步试验,得出了一些有益结论。     

中尺度天气图分析技术在2011年我国南方4次强降水过程中的应用

对12 h 50 mm以上的强降水带的预报,模式输出的降水资料是预报的重要依据,但是有时偏差可达100～200 km.本文尝试依据国家气象中心2010年下发的《中尺度天气图分析技术规范(暂行稿)》,利用探空资料,对2011年6月我国南方梅雨期间强降水过程中4次12 h最强降水时段的环境场进行中尺度天气图分析,得到了有利于梅雨锋附近的强降水的预报着眼点,给出了判断强降水落区的一些参考依据.700 hPa以下西南(偏南)急流汇合区,在这些地区,具备了较强的动力、水汽辐合和一定的风垂直切变.地面气压槽中低于日变化的3h变压低值区(中心)易形成变压风辐合流场,也是强降水易发区(中心).多数情况下锋面可以作为强降水南界,但当925 hPa暖切变位于地面锋面南侧(附近),强降水发生在锋前暖区,10 m·s-1以上西南急流所能到达的纬度可作为南界.500 hPa槽前≥18 m·s-1中层西南急流轴一般可作为50 mm以上的强降水区域的北界,但当925 hPa切变位置与中层西南急流位置重叠或位于其北侧时,则以700 hPa切变为北边界.将这些判据应用于多次强降水天气时段中,并与日本模式输出降水比较,在强雨带南北界以及降水中心方面有订正作用.中尺度天气图分析技术及预报思路是订正模式对强降水落区预报的有效手段之一.     

Science and Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over China: Research Progress since the Reform and Opening-Up of New China

This paper reviews the major progress on development of the science and prediction of heavy rainfall over China since the beginning of the reform and opening-up of new China(roughly between 1980 and 2019). The progress of research on the physical mechanisms of heavy rainfall over China is summarized from three perspectives: 1) the relevant synoptic weather systems, 2) heavy rainfall in major sub-regions of China, and 3) heavy rainfall induced by typhoons. The development and application of forecasting techniques for heavy rainfall are summarized in terms of numerical weather prediction techniques and objective forecasting methods. Greatly aided by the rapid progress in meteorological observing technology and substantial improvement in electronic computing, studies of heavy rainfall in China have advanced to investigating the evolution of heavy-rain-producing storms and observational analysis of the cloud microphysical features. A deeper and more systematic understanding of the synoptic systems of importance to the production of heavy rainfall has also been developed. Operational forecast of heavy rainfall in China has changed from subjective weather event forecasts to a combination of both subjective and objective quantitative precipitation forecasts, and is now advancing toward probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts with the provision of forecast uncertainty information.     

南疆暴雨研究进展

南疆地区位于欧亚腹地,属于典型的温带大陆性干旱气候,受复杂地形地貌、天气系统路径以及特殊的大气环流与水汽条件等影响,暴雨突发性强且地域性特征显著。目前,全球数值预报模式及中尺度数值模式对南疆暴雨的预报能力十分有限,近年来,许多研究团队在塔里木盆地进行了大型外场观测试验,对揭示南疆暴雨的机制机理有了更多启示,对造成南疆暴雨的对流触发机制、高低空系统配置及演变特征、降雨云物理过程等都有了更为深入的认识。本文对南疆暴雨的气候特征、大尺度环流背景、中尺度系统发生发展、水汽输送、降水动力机制等方面进行了总结回顾,并提出了需要进一步研究的科学问题,以期为进一步开展南疆暴雨研究、提高暴雨预报准确率及防灾减灾能力提供参考。     

天津地区080625强对流天气过程的分析

强对流降水是天津地区重要的灾害性天气,为了研究该类天气发生发展的动力学、热力学机制,利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和FY-2C卫星逐时TBB资料对2008年6月25日天津的强对流降水过程进行研究,然后利用WRF（weather research and forecasting）中尺度数值模式对该次强对流降水过程进行数值模拟和诊断分析。结果表明：中尺度露点锋是该次强对流降水的重要机制,其对应的低层气流辐合所形成的强烈上升运动及相对应的强烈发展的对流云团,是此次天津强对流降水的直接影响系统;对流有效位能等参数的变化非常好地反映出此次强降水天气的发生和发展特征;较大的相对螺旋度与此次强对流天气的发生对应也较好。由此认为,中尺度露点锋锋生的动力学、热力学过程是此次强对流降水天气发生发展的重要机制。     

西南涡加密资料同化对西南区域模式降水预报的影响

本文基于2017年西南涡加密观测试验的四川省11个观测站的探空资料,利用西南区域9km和3km分辨率数值天气预报模式系统,开展了数值预报同化试验。同化试验每日06和18UTC各进行一次,持续40天。西南区域9km分辨率数值预报系统(SWC-WARMS)的模拟结果表明,加密探空观测资料对四川高空观测起到了补充。同化后可以改善模式初始场,有助于提升24小时降水预报的ETS评分,对小雨到大雨量级的BIAS评分也有一定的改善。西南区域3km分辨率系统得益于分辨率的提升,相比SWC-WARMS减小了大暴雨空报面积。同化加密探空观测可以提升降水预报的ETS评分,但空报面积也有所增加。      

2007年主汛期武汉区域四种数值模式定量降水预报评估

利用武汉中心气象台研发的“武汉区域气象中心天气轨道业务产品检验与评估平台”,对武汉区域气象中心在业务中使用的T213、AREM、日本数值预报模式和德国数值预报模式在2007年主汛期的降水预报进行了分级降水检验以及时空分布演变综合评估。结果表明,日本数值预报模式的综合预报性能最好,AREM次好,各模式均存在对强降水预报漏报率偏大的问题;AREM模式对降水带分布和中心强度的预报与实况最接近,表现出对降水带分布较强的预报能力,其它模式对强降水中心位置及强度的预报均有一定偏差;四种数值模式对区域强降水过程的发展趋势具有较强的预报能力,但降水量预报与实况有一定的差距。     

贵州西部极端对流性暴雨预报失败案例剖析

2020年6月1—2日,贵州西部发生了1次局地性的对流性暴雨过程,预报员和各数值模式对此次过程的预报量级显著偏小,对暴雨范围的低估,造成了特大暴雨、大暴雨的漏报。该文利用常规地面、高空资料,加密自动站观测资料,多普勒天气雷达资料,卫星资料及业务中常用的数值预报产品等对此次暴雨漏报案例进行剖析,结果表明：在弱天气尺度强迫背景下,高温高湿的环境中,未能准确判断对流的触发条件,未分析出露点锋、偏西风和偏南风的辐合、冷池和地面辐合线等的存在及其对强降水的影响,加之难以在短时间内对风场的发展演变进行精细分析,导致此次暴雨过程漏报;对于发生在暖湿气团中的对流性降水的预报,需考虑高温高湿环境下露点锋、辐合区、冷池、地面辐合线的相互作用触发对流并使其组织化发展,从而导致局地性、对流性强降水的产生;基于地面加密自动站资料和雷达资料等的短时临近预报可以帮助捕捉中小尺度系统,从而提高对此类暴雨的预报准确率。     

Impact of 4DVAR assimilation of rainfall data on the simulation of mesoscale precipitation systems in a mei-yu heavy rainfall event

The multi-scale weather systems associated with a mei-yu front and the corresponding heavy precipitation during a particular heavy rainfall event that occurred on 4 5 July 2003 in east China were successfully simulated through rainfall assimilation using the PSU/NCAR non-hydrostatic, mesoscale, numerical model （MM5） and its four-dimensional, variational, data assimilation （4DVAR） system. For this case, the improvement of the process via the 4DVAR rainfall assimilation into the simulation of mesoscale precipitation systems is investigated. With the rainfall assimilation, the convection is triggered at the right location and time, and the evolution and spatial distribution of the mesoscale convective systems （MCSs） are also more correctly simulated. Through the interactions between MCSs and the weather systems at different scales, including the low-level jet and mei-yu front, the simulation of the entire mei-yu weather system is significantly improved, both during the data assimilation window and the subsequent 12-h period. The results suggest that the rainfall assimilation first provides positive impact at the convective scale and the influences are then propagated upscale to the meso- and sub-synoptic scales.
Through a set of sensitive experiments designed to evaluate the impact of different initial variables on the simulation of mei-yu heavy rainfall, it was found that the moisture field and meridional wind had the strongest effect during the convection initialization stage, however, after the convection was fully triggered, all of the variables at the initial condition seemed to have comparable importance.     

MODE方法在降水预报检验中的应用分析

采用WRF模式MET检验包中MODE方法,对BJ-RUC降水预报产品进行客观检验。使用2008—2009年汛期北京自动站逐小时降水数据,挑选出2个及以上站3小时累计降水≥50 mm的局地强降水个例及主要降水时段,根据其环流形势及影响系统进行分型,并将其归纳出三种型：西来槽型、低涡型、切变线型。分别针对这三种型中强降水个例的主要降水时段进行检验。在检验中使用BJ-RUC模式降水预报产品,实况数据使用与强降水时段相对应的雷达QPE降水估计产品。检验结果表明,BJ-RUC模式降水漏报比空报造成的误差更为明显,对移动较明显的西来槽型降水预报能力较差,相似度评分与TS评分没有本质区别,但它能给模式应用和模式开发人员提供更多有用信息。此项工作能为该模式应用及模式改进提供参考依据。     

The prediction of two cases of severe convection: implications for forecast guidance

Summary Severe convection in the Sydney basin regularly produces destructive winds, heavy rain or flash flooding, and damage from large hail. Such convective activity is a major forecasting challenge for the Sydney basin, especially during the October to April warm season. There presently is a need to provide timely, accurate and reliable numerical guidance to supplement the current probabilistic convective outlooks, issued by the operational forecasters. Initial work has been carried out that examines two cases of severe convection in the Sydney basin. The performance of a very high resolution (2 km) numerical weather prediction (NWP) model is assessed in terms of how well it performed in providing guidance on heavy rainfall and hail, as well as other key mesoscale phenomena such as low level convergence lines. The model results discriminated well between severe convection that actually did occur in the first case (1 December, 2000) and the failure of severe convection to develop in the second case (8 December, 2000). The operational forecasters predicted severe convection to occur in both cases. It is now planned to take the next step of augmenting the quasi-subjective approach of the operational forecasters with the NWP guidance to provide an enhanced capacity to forecast severe convection in the Sydney basin. Received October 20, 2001 Revised December 28, 2001     

天气预报的业务技术进展

该文总结回顾了中央气象台近年来的天气预报业务技术进展。天气预报质量的历史演变显示了预报业务水平的提高, 这种业务能力的提高既反映了预报技术的发展, 也带来了天气预报业务的变化。对业务天气预报中各种预报技术应用进展的分析表明:数值预报在天气预报业务能力提高中发挥着重要的基础性作用; 同时, 基于对不同尺度天气影响系统发展演变过程深入认识的基础上, 天气学的预报方法依然是预报业务中的重要技术方法; 动力诊断预报已成为灾害性天气预报中的重要手段之一, 数值预报产品的解释应用是实现气象要素精细定量预报的技术途径。     

不同降水方案对"03.7"一次暴雨过程模拟的影响

观测和数值模拟研究已经表明,潜热释放对中国东部夏季梅雨锋系统及其锋面降水的维持和发展发挥着非常重要的作用.然而,目前对于梅雨锋降水模拟中各种降水方案的相互协调和系统评估方面的工作仍不多见,为了增进对梅雨锋暴雨模拟中降水过程的认识,作者针对2003年7月4～5日一次梅雨锋暴雨过程,构造了四组试验,利用MM5模式考察了两种分辨率(36 km、12 km),各种隐/显式方案搭配下,对所生成的雨带、雨量和降水类型的配置进行了仔细的研究,得到了一些有意义的结论,为今后更好地使用模式、利用数值模式来认识中尺度降水过程中的气象问题打下基础.主要结论包括:模拟总降水的水平分布和强度,以及显式降水和隐式降水的划分对积云参数化方案的选择非常敏感.但对特定积云参数化方案而言,降水的模拟对36 km、12 km水平分辨率不敏感(除Betts-Miller方案外);在中尺度网格分辨率10～50 km范围内,不同积云参数化方案对梅雨锋降水分布和降水量模拟的影响比不同显式方案带来的变化大得多.     

青藏高原东部定量降水数值预报试验及业务化应用评估

该文运用LASG η坐标有限区域数值预报模式在青藏高原东部的川、渝两省市进行了定量、定点降水预报的数值模拟敏感性研究和准业务化试验, 并根据中国气象局的有关规定对结果进行了评估。经过对比分析发现:低纬度的天气系统与其活动特性, 对该地区定量、定点降水数值预报有着重要影响; 同样的物理过程和地形影响处理方式在不同的天气过程中对降水量的影响有显著差异; 可选用适当的客观分析方法, 通过强调距格点最近的站点的影响来尽量保持高、低值系统的极值, 从而改进预报效果。准业务化试验结果表明:LASG η坐标模式以其比较完善的动力框架和物理过程处理方法在这个地形复杂、天气系统多变的区域内可获得较好的预报结果, 特别是晴雨预报可获得较高的TS评分, 并能对某些客观预报难度较大的天气过程做出较好的预报。     

多普勒雷达资料同化的稀疏化方式对暴雨过程的影响研究

利用中尺度非静力WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting)模式及其三维变分同化系统,对2007年7月淮河流域的一次强降雨过程进行多普勒雷达径向速度资料的三维变分同化试验,重点考察雷达资料的不同稀疏化方式对同化结果以及对暴雨数值模拟的影响。结果表明:同化多普勒雷达径向速度资料使得模式初始风场包含了更丰富的中尺度特征信息,有效调整了初始场的环流结构,能够改善模式对暴雨过程的模拟效果;以不同的稀疏化处理方式同化多普勒雷达径向速度资料对分析场会产生不同的影响,进而影响模式的降水预报效果,本次试验中当极坐标网格径向分辨率取10 km的时候降水过程的预报效果最好。     

The Impact of Assimilating Radar-estimated Rain Rates on Simulation of Precipitation in the 17--18 July 1996 Chicago Floods

Rainfall prediction remains one of the most challenging problems in weather forecasting. In order to improve high-resolution quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPF), a new procedure for assimilating rainfall rate derived from radar composite reflectivity has been proposed and tested in a numerical simulation of the Chicago floods of 17–18 July 1996. The methodology is based on the one-dimensional variation scheme (1DVAR) assimilation approach introduced by Fillion and Errico but applied here using the Ka...     

滁河流域汛期多模式集成面雨量预报检验评估

对2013—2016年汛期ECMWF、JMA及中尺度WRF模式的预报结果进行检验,基于合理的时间尺度,制作了动态权重集成面雨量预报(DWI)、分步集成面雨量预报(SI)和等权重集成面雨量预报(EWI)产品,并对2017—2020年汛期降水期间多种集成面雨量预报产品和ECMWF、JMA、WRF的单个模式面雨量预报产品进行对比评估.结果表明:3种集成面雨量预报效果整体上优于单一数值预报模式,尤其是预报致灾严重的暴雨等级降水优势明显;DWI和WRF对强降水的面雨量预报正确率最高,其他2种集成面雨量预报结果次之,ECMWF及JMA较差;模式集成预报弱降水过程的优势不明显.