Possible sources of forecast errors generated by the global/regional assimilation and prediction system for landfalling tropical cyclones. Part I: Initial uncertainties

This paper investigates the possible sources of errors associated with tropical cyclone (TC) tracks forecasted using the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES). The GRAPES forecasts were made for 16 landfalling TCs in the western North Pacific basin during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, with a forecast length of 72 hours, and using the default initial conditions (“initials”, hereafter), which are from the NCEP-FNL dataset, as well as ECMWF initials. The forecasts are compared with ECMWF forecasts. The results show that in most TCs, the GRAPES forecasts are improved when using the ECMWF initials compared with the default initials. Compared with the ECMWF initials, the default initials produce lower intensity TCs and a lower intensity subtropical high, but a higher intensity South Asia high and monsoon trough, as well as a higher temperature but lower specific humidity at the TC center. Replacement of the geopotential height and wind fields with the ECMWF initials in and around the TC center at the initial time was found to be the most efficient way to improve the forecasts. In addition, TCs that showed the greatest improvement in forecast accuracy usually had the largest initial uncertainties in TC intensity and were usually in the intensifying phase. The results demonstrate the importance of the initial intensity for TC track forecasts made using GRAPES, and indicate the model is better in describing the intensifying phase than the decaying phase of TCs. Finally, the limit of the improvement indicates that the model error associated with GRAPES forecasts may be the main cause of poor forecasts of landfalling TCs. Thus, further examinations of the model errors are required.     

The mesoscale balance and imbalance and the corresponding potential vorticity inversion from the view of helicity

The static balance and the geostrophic balance are the common balances in meteorology.All the synoptic systems and most of the mesoscale systems satisfy the above two balances.However,due to the strong convection and non-geostrophic feature,many mesoscale systems usually present as static imbalance,and the quasi-geostrophic approximation is no longer attainable.This paper tried to find out a kind of balance that exists for mesoscale convective system.To do this,the concrete mathematics definitions for balance and imbalance equations were defined.Then,it is proposed that the new balance equation should include the divergence,vorticity,and vertical motion simultaneously,and the helicity equation was a good choice for the basis.Finally,the mesoscale balance and imbalance equations were constructed,as well as a new balance model that was based on the helicity,horizontal divergence,vertical vorticity,continuity,and thermal dynamic equations under same approximations.Moreover,the corresponding potential vorticity(PV)inversion technique was introduced.It was pointed out that by using the PV conservation and the potential temperature conservation,the flows of the mesoscale balance model can be deduced,and their comparison with the real fields would give the degree of the imbalance.     

2015年汛期气候预测先兆信号的综合分析

文章全面回顾了发布2015年汛期预测时考虑的先兆信号及其应用情况。2015年春夏季厄尔尼诺事件进一步发展,并由中部型向东部型转变,热带印度洋为一致偏暖模态发展;冬、春季北大西洋三极子为正位相;冬、春季北极海冰较常年略偏少,南极海冰偏多;冬季欧亚积雪增量略少,青藏高原积雪略多但气温偏高。通过诊断分析,认为2015年汛期预测的主导外强迫信号是太平洋厄尔尼诺事件和印度洋海温一致偏暖模态。同时参考动力气候模式的预测,在4月初的预报中,重点考虑了厄尔尼诺事件的强度和空间型变化对东亚夏季风环流的影响,有利于东亚夏季风偏弱,西太平洋副热带高压偏强偏西,季风季节内进程偏晚,我国降水呈南多北少型。在5月底的订正预报中,进一步考虑热带印度洋偏暖模态对副热带高压偏强偏西偏南的影响,以及南半球越赤道气流强度偏弱特征及对夏季风季节进程和强度的影响。经过综合分析,准确地预测了2015年东亚夏季风偏弱、我国夏季降水南多北少的布局,以及季节内主要气候事件的演变。最后对汛期气候预测存在的不足进行了初步分析和讨论。     

西南地区夏季大气水汽含量及其与南亚高压关系

利用欧洲中期天气预报中心 (ECMWF) 提供的ERA-interim高分辨率资料,借助经验正交函数 (EOF) 分解、距平合成和相关分析等方法,讨论1979—2014年我国西南地区夏季大气水汽含量的时空变化特征及其与南亚高压的关系。研究结果表明:我国西南地区夏季大气水汽含量空间分布形态主要有全区一致型、南北振荡型和东西振荡型。全区一致型 (EOF1) 能够反映西南地区夏季水汽含量的主要特征,西南地区夏季大气水汽含量具有明显的年际变化特征;西南地区夏季大气水汽含量与南亚高压强度指数、面积指数及东伸指数均存在非常显著的正相关关系;南亚高压的异常偏强,有利于南海地区水汽向西南地区输送,且在西南地区气流由低层向高层的上升运动显著增强,引起西南地区大气水汽含量的异常偏多。     

适应气候变化的国际行动和农业措施研究进展

针对气候变暖采取稳健的适应措施已成为国际社会共识。该文综合了当前适应气候变化的国际谈判进展及已有的农业适应气候变化措施,指出适应资金严重不足,技术研发、应用与转让难以实施,以及适应气候变化行动实施能力的不足严重制约着适应气候变化行动的有效实施;关于农业适应气候变化的技术措施仍缺乏系统的理论研究与应用示范。在此基础上,提出了未来中国农业适应气候变化需要重点开展的研究任务,即农业气象灾变过程的新特点及其风险管理, 农业适应气候变化的大数据决策管理系统研发及适应气候变化的农业气候区划与减灾保产技术研究,以切实推进农业适应气候变化,为确保国家粮食安全与农业可持续发展提供支撑。     

黔西南州区域自动站气象资料绘图系统的研制

随着气象服务的不断推进,用户对气象服务产品的要求越来越高,提高气象服务产品的质量对于基层气象台站来说显得至关重要。目前,区域气象站的建设已覆盖到各乡镇,将这些区域气象站资料用直观的色斑图来显示,可有效提高气象服务质量和服务水平。系统综合使用VB、Fortran、Gr ADS等技术,实现对区域自动站气象资料的查询、处理与绘图等功能,并可分县制作绘图边界和色斑图,为决策气象服务提供精美素材。     

一次寒潮背景下降水相态变化特征分析

利用常规气象观测资料和NCEP再分析资料,对2013年4月18日到20日河南出现的一次区域性寒潮天气过程的环流背景、影响系统及寒潮期间降水多相态转换的成因进行了分析。结果表明:本次寒潮过程属于横槽转竖型,冷锋迅速南下,导致寒潮暴发;此次寒潮天气的大气温度层结存在逆温层结构特征,温度廓线的变化会导致降水相态发生变化;受低层冷空气持续影响,暖层强度即融化层遭到一定程度的破坏或消失,冷层即冻结层强度增强,0℃层高度下降,以致降水相态发生相应的改变;降水相态的变化与暖层温度及0℃层高度密切相关。根据本次寒潮过程中NCEP再分析数据得到:当降水相态为雨时,暖层温度≥2℃,0℃层高度≤975 h Pa;当降水相态为雪时,暖层温度≤-1℃,0℃层高度≌1000 h Pa;当降水相态为冰粒时,2℃≥暖层温度≥-1℃,1000 h Pa≥0℃层高度≥975 h Pa。     

FDR土壤水分传感器原状土壤标定方法研究

为获得测站准确的土壤水分传感器标定参数,利用自动土壤水分站点的大型原状土壤为样本,在实验室同时进行人工称重观测和仪器自动对比观测,得到一系列的人工自动测量数据,以人工称重数据为准对自动土壤水分传感器进行订正。由于采用原状土壤,样本土壤的质地、密度、土壤颗粒和结合紧密度基本没有受到破坏,订正后的自动土壤体积含水量值能更加真实反映台站实际土壤墒情,能够修订人工对比观测期间由于样本空间不足导致的不合理的田间标定方程。