Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Experiment Based on Basic NWP Variables Using Deep Learning

The quantitative precipitation forecast(QPF)performance by numerical weather prediction(NWP)methods depends fundamentally on the adopted physical parameterization schemes(PS).However,due to the complexity of the physical mechanisms of precipitation processes,the uncertainties of PSs result in a lower QPF performance than their prediction of the basic meteorological variables such as air temperature,wind,geopotential height,and humidity.This study proposes a deep learning model named QPFNet,which uses basic meteorological variables in the ERA5 dataset by fitting a non-linear mapping relationship between the basic variables and precipitation.Basic variables forecasted by the highest-resolution model(HRES)of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF)were fed into QPFNet to forecast precipitation.Evaluation results show that QPFNet achieved better QPF performance than ECMWF HRES itself.The threat score for 3-h accumulated precipitation with depths of 0.1,3,10,and 20 mm increased by 19.7%,15.2%,43.2%,and 87.1%,respectively,indicating the proposed performance QPFNet improved with increasing levels of precipitation.The sensitivities of these meteorological variables for QPF in different pressure layers were analyzed based on the output of the QPFNet,and its performance limitations are also discussed.Using DL to extract features from basic meteorological variables can provide an important reference for QPF,and avoid some uncertainties of PSs.

Forecasting Different Types of Convective Weather: A Deep Learning Approach

A deep learning objective forecasting solution for severe convective weather(SCW) including short-duration heavy rain(HR), hail, convective gusts(CG), and thunderstorms based on numerical weather prediction(NWP) data was developed. We first established the training datasets as follows. Five years of severe weather observations were utilized to label the NCEP final(FNL) analysis data. A large number of labeled samples for each type of weather were then selected for model training. The local temperature, pressure, humidity, and winds from 1000 to 200 h Pa, as well as dozens of convective physical parameters, were taken as predictors in our model. A six-layer convolutional neural network(CNN) model was then built and trained to obtain optimal model weights. After that, the trained model was used to predict SCW based on the Global Forecast System(GFS) forecast data as input. The performances of the CNN model and other traditional methods were compared. The results show that the deep learning algorithm had a higher classification accuracy on HR and hail than support vector machine, random forests, and other traditional machine learning algorithms. The objective forecasts by use of the deep learning algorithm also showed better forecasting skills than the subjective forecasts by the forecasters. The threat scores(TSs) of thunderstorm, HR, hail, and CG were increased by 16.1%, 33.2%, 178%, and 55.7%, respectively. The deep learning forecast model is currently used in the National Meteorological Center of China to provide guidance for the operational SCW forecasting over China.

Progress in Severe Convective Weather Forecasting in China since the 1950s

Located in the Asian monsoon region, China frequently experiences severe convective weather(SCW), such as short-duration heavy rainfall(SDHR), thunderstorm high winds, hails, and occasional tornadoes. Progress in SCW forecasting in China is closely related to the construction and development of meteorological observation networks,especially weather radar and meteorological satellite networks. In the late 1950 s, some county-level meteorological bureaus began to conduct empirical hail forecasting based on observations of clouds and surface meteorological variables. It took over half a century to develop a modern comprehensive operational monitoring and warning system for SCW forecast nationwide since the setup of the first weather radar in 1959. The operational SCW forecasting, including real-time monitoring, warnings valid for tens of minutes, watches valid for several hours, and outlooks covering lead times of up to three days, was established in 2009. Operational monitoring and forecasting of thunderstorms,SDHR, thunderstorm high winds, and hails have been carried out. The performance of operational SCW forecasting will be continually improved in the future with the development of convection-resolving numerical models(CRNMs), the upgrade of weather radar networks, the launch of new-generation meteorological satellites, better understanding of meso-γ and microscale SCW systems, and further application of artificial intelligence technology and CRNM predictions.