A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE QUALITY CONTROL METHOD FOR GUANGDONG GPS/PWV DATA AND ITS EFFECTS ON PRECIPITATION FORECASTS IN ITS ANNUALLY FIRST RAINING SEASON

We first analyzed GPS precipitable water vapor (GPS/PWV) available from a ground-based GPS observation network in Guangdong from 1 August 2009 to 27 August 2012 and then developed a method of quality control before GPS/PWV data is assimilated into the GRAPES 3DVAR system. This method can reject the outliers effectively. After establishing the criterion for quality control, we did three numerical experiments to investigate the impact on the precipitation forecast with and without the quality-controlled GPS/PWV data before they are assimilated into the system. In the numerical experiments, two precipitation cases (on 6 to 7 May, 2010 and 27 to 28 April, 2012 respectively) that occurred in the annually first raining season of Guangdong were selected. The results indicated that after quality control, only the GPS/PWV data that deviates little from the NCEP/PWV data can be assimilated into the system, has reasonable adjustment of the initial water vapor above Guangdong, and eventually improves the intensity and location of 24-h precipitation forecast significantly.     

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.     

Numerical Research on Effects Upon Precipitation Forecast of Doppler-Radar Estimated Precipitation and Retrieved Wind Field Under Different Model Initial Schemes

On the basis of the joint estimated 1-h precipitation from Changde, Jingzhou, and Yichang Doppler radars as well as Wuhan digital radar, and the retrieved wind fields from Yichang and Jingzhou Doppler radars, a series of numerical experiments with an advanced regionalη-coordinate model (AREM) under different model initial schemes, i.e., Grapes-3DVAR, Barnes objective analysis, and Barnes-3DVAR, are carried out for a torrential rain process occurring along the Yangtze River in the 24-h period from 2000 BT 22 July 2002 to investigate the effects of the Doppler-radar estimated rainfall and retrieved winds on the rainfall forecast. The main results are as follows: (1) The simulations are obviously different under three initial schemes with the same data source (the radiosounding and T213L31 analysis). On the whole, Barnes-3DVAR, which combines the advantages of the Barnes objective analysis and the Grapes-3DVAR method, gives the best simulations: well-simulated rain band and clear mesoscale structures, as well as their location and intensity close to observations. (2) Both Barnes-3DVAR and Grapes-3DVAR schemes are able to assimilate the Doppler-radar estimated rainfall and retrieved winds, but differences in simulation results are very large, with Barnes-3DVAR's simulation much better than Grapes-3DVAR's. (3) Under Grapes-3DVAR scheme, the simulation of 24-h rainfall is improved obviously when assimilating the Doppler-radar estimated precipitation into the model in compared with the control experiment; but it becomes a little worse when assimilating the Doppler-radar retrieved winds into the model, and it becomes worse obviously when assimilating the Doppler-radar estimated precipitation as well as retrieved winds into the model. However, the simulation is different under Barnes-3DVAR scheme. The simulation is improved to a certain degree no matter assimilating the estimated precipitation or retrieved winds, or both of them. The result is the best when assimilating both of them into the model. And (4) Barnes-3DVAR is a new and efficient initial scheme for assimilating the radar estimated rainfall and retrieved winds.     

Four-dimensional variational data assimilation experiments for a heavy rain case during the 2002 IOP in China

A heavy rainfall event along the mei-yu front during 22-23 June 2002 was chosen for this study. To assess the impact of the routine and additional IOP (intensive observation period) radiosonde observations on the mesoscale heavy rainfall forecast, a series of four-dimensional variational (4DVAR) data assimilation and model simulation experiments was conducted using nonhydrostatic mesoscale model MM5 and the MM5 4DVAR system. The effects of the intensive observations in the different areas on the heavy rainfall forecast were also investigated. The results showed that improvement of the forecast skill for mesoscale heavy rainfall intensity was possible from the assimilation of the IOP radiosonde observations. However,the impact of the IOP observations on the forecast of the rainfall pattern was not significant. Initial conditions obtained through the 4DVAR experiments with a 12-h assimilation window were capable of improving the 24-h forecast. The simulated results after the assimilation showed that it would be best to perform the intensive radiosonde observations in the upstream of the rainfall area and in the moisture passageway area at the same time. Initial conditions created by the 4DVAR led to the low-level moisture convergence over the rainfall area, enhanced frontogenesis and upward motion within the mei-yu front,and intensified middle- and high-level unstable stratification in front of the mei-yu front. Consequently,the heavy rainfall forecast was improved.     

Developments of the Three-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation System for the Nonhydrostatic GRAPES

Based on the original GRAPES (Global/Regional Assimilation and PrEdiction System) 3DVAR (p3DAR), which is defined on isobaric surface, a new three-dimensional variational data assimilation system (m3DVAR) is constructed and used exclusively with the nonhydrostatic GRAPES model in order to reduce the errors caused by spatial interpolation and variable transformation, and to improve the quality of the initial value for operational weather forecasts. Analytical variables of the m3DVAR are fully consistent with predictands of the GRADES model in terms of spatial staggering and physical definition. A different vertical coordinate and the nonhydrostatic condition are taken into account, and a new scheme for solving the dynamical constraint equations is designed for the m3DVAR. To deal with the difficulties in solving the nonlinear balance equation at σ levels, dynamical balance constraints between mass and wind fields are reformulated, and an effective mathematical scheme is implemented under the terrain-following coordinate. Meanwhile, new observation operators are developed for routine observational data, and the background error covariance is also obtained. Currently, the m3DVAR system can assimilate all routine observational data. Multi-variable idealized experiments with single point observations are performed to validate the m3DVAR system. The results show that the system can describe correctly the multi-variable analysis and the relationship of the physical constraints. The difference of innovation and the analysis residual for ∏ also show that the analysis error of the m3DVAR is smaller than that of the p3DVAR. The Ts scores of precipitation forecasts in August 2006 indicate that the m3DVAR system provides reduced errors in the model initial value than the p3DVAR system. Therefore, the m3DVAR system can improve the analysis quality and initial value for numerical weather predictions.     

Application of Radar Reflectivity Factor in Initializing Cloud-Resolving Mesoscale Model. Part Ⅱ： Numerical Simulation Experiments

Microphysics elements and vertical velocity retrieved were incorporated using the nudging method into the initial data assimilation of GRAPES （Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System） model. Simulation experiments indicated that nudging technique was effective in forcing the model forecast gradually consistent to the observations, yielding the thermodynamically and dynamically balanced analysis field. As viewed from the simulation results, water vapor is vital to precipitation, and it is a governing factor for the amount and duration of precipitation. The initial cloud water, rain water, and vertical velocity determine the strength distribution of convection and precipitation at the beginning time of forecast; the horizontal wind field steers the motion of the mesoscale weather system embedded in and impacts the position of precipitation zone to a large extent. The simulation experiments show that the influence of the initial retrieval data on prediction weakens with the increase of forecast time, and within the first hour of forecast, the retrieval data have an important impact on the evolution of the weather system, but its influence becomes trivial after the first three hours. Changing the nudging coefficient and the integral time-spacing of numerical model will bring some influences to the results. Herein only one radar reflectivity was used, the radar observations did not cover the whole model domain, and some empirical parameters were used in the retrieval method, therefore some differences still lie between simulation and observation to a certain extent, and further studies on several aspects are expected.     

Assimilation of the FY-4A AGRI Clear-Sky Radiance Data in a Regional Numerical Model and Its Impact on the Forecast of the “21·7” Henan Extremely Persistent Heavy Rainfall

Assimilation of the Advanced Geostationary Radiance Imager(AGRI) clear-sky radiance in a regional model is performed. The forecasting effectiveness of the assimilation of two water vapor(WV) channels with conventional observations for the “21·7” Henan extremely heavy rainfall is analyzed and compared with a baseline test that assimilates only conventional observations in this study. The results show that the 24-h cumulative precipitation forecast by the assimilation experiment with the addition ...     

Water Cycle and Microphysical Processes Associated with a Mesoscale Convective Vortex System in the Dabie Mountain Area

The water vapor budget and the cloud microphysical processes associated with a heavy rainfall system in the Dabie Mountain area in June 2008 were analyzed using mesoscale reanalysis data(grid resolution 0.03 × 0.03,22 vertical layers,1-h intervals),generated by amalgamating the local analysis and prediction system(LAPS).The contribution of each term in the water vapor budget formula to precipitation was evaluated.The characteristics of water vapor budget and water substances in various phase states were evaluated and their differences in heavy and weak rainfall areas were compared.The precipitation calculated from the total water vapor budget accounted for 77% of actual precipitation;surface evaporation is another important source of water vapor.Water vapor within the domain of interest mainly came from the lower level along the southern boundary and the lower-middle level along the western boundary.This altitude difference for water vapor flux was caused by different weather systems.The decrease of local water vapor in the middle-lower layer in the troposphere during the system development stage also contributed to precipitation.The strength and the layer thickness of water vapor convergence and the content of various water substances in the heavy rainfall areas were obviously larger than in the weak rainfall areas.The peak values of lower-level water vapor convergence,local water vapor income,and the concentration of cloud ice all preceded the heaviest surface rainfall by a few hours.     

THE INFLUENCE OF SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON ON THE RAINSTORM ASSOCIATED WITH THE LANDFALLING STRONG TROPICAL STORM BILIS (0604)

Bilis （0604） is a strong tropical storm that sustained over land for a long time, bringing torrential rain. With conventional observation data, radar data and infrared satellite imagery, Mesoscale Convective Systems （MCSs） are found to form and develop successively, which cause torrential rain. Then numerical simulation is conducted using MM5 to simulate a 66-h post-landfall process. The simulated distribution and intensity of precipitation match the observation well. With the simulated result, the characteristics and process of MCS development are analyzed with the finding that the convergence of the tropical depression and South China Sea （SCS） summer monsoon over The south of China causes the formation of a mesoscale vortex, mesoscale convergence center and mesoscale convergence line, which are favorable to the development and sustaining of the MCSs. A sensitivity experiment indicates that the SCS summer monsoon transports unstable energy and water vapor continuously, which is of vital importance to rainstorms.     

GPS Water Vapor and Its Comparison with Radiosonde and ERA-Interim Data in Algeria

Remote sensing of atmospheric water vapor using global positioning system(GPS) data has become an effective tool in meteorology,weather forecasting and climate research. This paper presents the estimation of precipitable water(PW)from GPS observations and meteorological data in Algeria,over three stations located at Algiers,Bechar and Tamanrasset.The objective of this study is to analyze the sensitivity of the GPS PW estimates for the three sites to the weighted mean temperature(T_m),obtained separately from two types of T_m–T_s regression [one general,and one developed specifically for Algeria(T_s stands for surface temperature)],and calculated directly from ERA-Interim data. The results show that the differences in T_m are of the order of 18 K,producing differences of 2.01 mm in the final evaluation of PW. A good agreement is found between GPS-PW and PW calculated from radiosondes,with a small mean difference with Vaisala radiosondes.A comparison between GPS and ERA-Interim shows a large difference(4 mm) in the highlands region. This difference is possibly due to the topography. These first results are encouraging,in particular for meteorological applications in this region,with good hope to extend our dataset analysis to a more complete,nationwide coverage over Algeria.     

“00.7”北京特大暴雨模拟中气象资料同化作用的评估

针对2000年7月4～5日北京地区的一次特大暴雨过程(24 h降水量达240 mm),文中利用MM5/WRF三维变分系统和MM5非静力模式,对此次特大暴雨过程中的各种气象监测资料(地基GPS大气柱水汽含量、常规探空、高空测风、地面常规观测和地面自动气象站)的同化作用通过观测系统数值试验进行了评估.结果表明与传统的客观分析方案相比较,MM5/WRF三维变分同化系统可直接引入非常规地基GPS大气柱水汽含量监测资料,提供更好的大气初始分析场.在三维变分同化方案下,各种大气监测资料均对改进此次特大暴雨模拟有不同程度的贡献,其中,常规探空和高空测风监测资料对改进预报结果的影响最大,地面常规观测和地面自动气象站观测资料作用次之,地基GPS大气柱水汽含量资料在与其他大气监测资料相互优势互补后,可很好地改善模式大气的分析质量,通过三维变分同化技术在区域数值天气预报模式初始场中引入地基GPS大气水汽监测网资料,使此次强降水个例的6 h和24 h测站降水预报的TS评分值在1,5,10和20 mm预报检验阈值下分别提高了1%～8%.研究结果对利用三维变分数值系统,评估气象监测网资料在改进高影响天气事件预报中的作用有借鉴意义.     

GPS可降水量资料应用于MM5模式的变分同化试验

利用建立在长江三角洲地区GPS观测网中13个站点的资料对2002年6月27~28日影响长江三角洲地区的降水过程进行了MM5背景误差调节和可降水量资料的三维变分同化试验。试验结果表明:背景误差对三维变分同化的效果起着关键作用,模式变量(u,v,T,p和q)误差的水平尺度与NMC方法的平均时间长度有直接的关系。利用NMC方法重新构建的背景误差更接近实际的背景误差。三维变分技术能有效地同化GPS可降水量资料。GPS可降水量资料的同化使用不仅能调整模式初始湿度场,而且也能相应地调整模式初始气压场、温度场和风场。GPS可降水量资料的同化有利于减小模式初始场对可降水量的分析误差,并且有利于减小模式积分初期(3~6 h)可降水量的预报误差。与没有进行GPS可降水量同化相比,通过GPS可降水量资料的三维变分同化,使MM5模式6 h和24 h累计降水能力得到提高,改善了MM5模式降水预报性能。总体上,GPS可降水量资料的变分同化有利于模式降水预报能力的提高。     

GPS观测资料应用于中尺度数值预报模式的初步研究

利用建立在长江三角洲地区GPS观测网中 11个站点的可降水量资料 ,对 2 0 0 2年 6月 2 3～ 2 4日影响长江三角洲地区的降水过程进行了MM5模式初始湿度场调整和Nudging同化试验。试验表明 :利用GPS测量的可降水量对模式初始湿度场进行调整能明显增强模式初始场描述水汽分布的能力 ,从而有效地控制模式积分初期对可降水量预报的误差 ,并对模式 6h累积降水量预报有较明显的改善作用。利用Nudging技术同化GPS可降水量资料对MM5预报效果改善较小 ,并且Nudging系数的增加对预报效果的影响不大。总体上 ,利用GPS可降水量资料调整模式初始湿度场对模式 6h累积降水预报效果的改善明显好于连续Nudging同化。试验还表明 :GPS资料对模式初始湿度场调整改善模式对累积降水量的预报主要是通过改善网格降水预报来实现的 ,而Nudging同化主要是通过改善次网格降水而提高模式降水预报能力的。     

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。     

华西秋雨天气过程中GPS遥感水汽总量演变特征

利用成都地区地基GPS观测网2007年9-11月的观测数据, 结合自动气象站资料计算出30 min间隔GPS遥感的大气水汽总量(GPS-PWV)。将成都地区秋季降雨分为阵性降雨和连续性降雨(秋绵雨), 结合其他气象要素资料, 分析了GPS-PWV变化与成都秋雨之间的关系。结果表明:高值的水汽总量是产生降水的必要条件; 不同的降水过程, GPS-PWV的变化幅度、极值水平和持续时间存在明显差异。水汽的增长、上升运动的增强和温度的减少是造成阵性降水的主要原因; 而秋绵雨过程中, 水汽的增长和地面露点温度差与降水过程有较好的对应关系。     

不同云系降水过程中GPS可降水量的特征——华北地区典型个例分析

利用石家庄、秦皇岛和张家口2005—2006年4~10月地基GPS反演的可降水量资料和常规天气资料,对可降水量与实际降水的关系进行统计,按降水性质,选取单纯积状云产生的对流降水、单纯层状云产生的稳定性降水及层积混合云产生的暴雨三类样本,对可降水量在三类典型降水过程中的演变趋势进行了分析。结果表明:大气中存在高值可降水量是降水产生的必要条件;可降水量呈阶段性、波状变化特点,其变化幅度、极值水平和持续时间与天气影响系统、降水性质等密切相关;降水强度和可降水量极大值出现时间不一定吻合,但强降水通常出现在可降水量的高值阶段,可降水量的高值阶段往往对应着较高的降水概率。另外,可降水量在以上三类性质降水中表现出不同特征,可为降水的短时临近预报提供参考。     

副高边缘暴雨过程中的GPS可降水量和假相当位温分布特征

利用2010年8月石家庄地基GPS反演的可降水量、地面加密自动站和常规天气资料,对由副高进退引起的河北省中南部一次强降水天气过程中GPS可降水量和地面假相当位温的演变趋势进行了详细分析.结果表明:1)此次暴雨过程是由副高边缘暖湿气流与切变线共同作用造成的,强降水区主要出现在500 hPa的584～588 dagpm线、700～850 hPa切变线之间;2)降水出现时GPS可降水量基本对应于高值阶段,强降水出现时可降水量位于峰值前后;降水出现时GPS可降水量偏离系数为正值,而强降水一般出现在偏离系数超过1时;3)对同一测站而言,GPS可降水量越大对应的实际降水越强.当测站不同时,GPS可降水量高并不一定代表更强的降水,这与测站的地理位置和海拔高度有关.4)降水出现前热力和水汽条件配置好,能量不断积累,假相当位温逐渐升至极大值.随着降水出现与能量的释放,假相当位温回落到谷值阶段,此谷值越低、持续时间越长,对应的降水也越强.