A data assimilation-based forecast model of outer radiation belt electron fluxes

Because radiation belt electrons can pose a potential threat to the safety of satellites orbiting in space,it is of great importance to develop a reliable model that can predict the highly dynamic variations in outer radiation belt electron fluxes.In the present study,we develop a forecast model of radiation belt electron fluxes based on the data assimilation method,in terms of Van Allen Probe measurements combined with three-dimensional radiation belt numerical simulations.Our forecast model can cover the entire outer radiation belt with a high temporal resolution(1 hour)and a spatial resolution of 0.25 L over a wide range of both electron energy(0.1-5.0 MeV)and pitch angle(5°-90°).On the basis of this model,we forecast hourly electron fluxes for the next 1,2,and 3 days during an intense geomagnetic storm and evaluate the corresponding prediction performance.Our model can reasonably predict the stormtime evolution of radiation belt electrons with high prediction efficiency(up to~0.8-1).The best prediction performance is found for~0.3-3 MeV electrons at L=~3.25-4.5,which extends to higher L and lower energies with increasing pitch angle.Our results demonstrate that the forecast model developed can be a powerful tool to predict the spatiotemporal changes in outer radiation belt electron fluxes,and the model has both scientific significance and practical implications.

Testing a Four-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation Method Using an Improved Intermediate Coupled Model for ENSO Analysis and Prediction

A four-dimensional variational （4D-Var） data assimilation method is implemented in an improved intermediate coupled model （ICM） of the tropical Pacific. A twin experiment is designed to evaluate the impact of the 4D-Var data assimilation algorithm on ENSO analysis and prediction based on the ICM. The model error is assumed to arise only from the parameter uncertainty. The ＂observation＂ of the SST anomaly, which is sampled from a ＂truth＂ model simulation that takes default parameter values and has Gaussian noise added, is directly assimilated into the assimilation model with its parameters set erroneously. Results show that 4D-Var effectively reduces the error of ENSO analysis and therefore improves the prediction skill of ENSO events compared with the non-assimilation case. These results provide a promising way for the ICM to achieve better real-time ENSO prediction.

Coupling Ensemble Kalman Filter with Four-dimensional Variational Data Assimilation

This study examines the performance of coupling the deterministic four-dimensional variational assimilation system （4DVAR） with an ensemble Kalman filter （EnKF） to produce a superior hybrid approach for data assimilation. The coupled assimilation scheme （E4DVAR） benefits from using the state-dependent uncertainty provided by EnKF while taking advantage of 4DVAR in preventing filter divergence： the 4DVAR analysis produces posterior maximum likelihood solutions through minimization of a cost function about which the ensemble perturbations are transformed, and the resulting ensemble analysis can be propagated forward both for the next assimilation cycle and as a basis for ensemble forecasting. The feasibility and effectiveness of this coupled approach are demonstrated in an idealized model with simulated observations. It is found that the E4DVAR is capable of outperforming both 4DVAR and the EnKF under both perfect- and imperfect-model scenarios. The performance of the coupled scheme is also less sensitive to either the ensemble size or the assimilation window length than those for standard EnKF or 4DVAR implementations.

Comparisons of Three-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation and Model Output Statistics in Improving Atmospheric Chemistry Forecasts

Atmospheric chemistry models usually perform badly in forecasting wintertime air pollution because of their uncertainties. Generally, such uncertainties can be decreased effectively by techniques such as data assimilation（DA） and model output statistics（MOS）. However, the relative importance and combined effects of the two techniques have not been clarified. Here,a one-month air quality forecast with the Weather Research and Forecasting-Chemistry（WRF-Chem） model was carried out in a virtually operational setup focusing on Hebei Province, China. Meanwhile, three-dimensional variational（3 DVar） DA and MOS based on one-dimensional Kalman filtering were implemented separately and simultaneously to investigate their performance in improving the model forecast. Comparison with observations shows that the chemistry forecast with MOS outperforms that with 3 DVar DA, which could be seen in all the species tested over the whole 72 forecast hours. Combined use of both techniques does not guarantee a better forecast than MOS only, with the improvements and degradations being small and appearing rather randomly. Results indicate that the implementation of MOS is more suitable than 3 DVar DA in improving the operational forecasting ability of WRF-Chem.

IMPACT OF VERTICAL RESOLUTION, MODEL TOP AND DATA ASSIMILATION ON WEATHER FORECASTING——A CASE STUDY

The impacts of stratospheric initial conditions and vertical resolution on the stratosphere by raising the model top,refining the vertical resolution,and the assimilation of operationally available observations,including conventional and satellite observations,on continental U.S.winter short-range weather forecasting,were investigated in this study.The initial and predicted wind and temperature profiles were analyzed against conventional observations.Generally,the initial wind and temperature bias profiles were better adjusted when a higher model top and refined vertical resolution were used.Negative impacts were also observed in both the initial wind and temperature profiles,over the lower troposphere.Different from the results by only raising the model top,the assimilation of operationally available observations led to significant improvements in both the troposphere and stratosphere initial conditions when a higher top was used.Predictions made with the adjusted stratospheric initial conditions and refined vertical resolutions showed generally better forecasting skill.The major improvements caused by raising the model top with refined vertical resolution,as well as those caused by data assimilation,were in both cases located in the tropopause and lower stratosphere.Negative impacts were also observed in the predicted near surface wind and lower-tropospheric temperature.These negative impacts were related to the uncertainties caused by more stratospheric information,as well as to some physical processes.A case study shows that when we raise the model top,put more vertical layers in stratosphere and apply data assimilation,the precipitation scores can be slightly improved.However,more analysis is needed due to uncertainties brought by data assimilation.

Preliminary Meteorological Results of a Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation Technique in Southern Italy

A four-dimensional data assimilation (FDDA) scheme based on a Newtonian relaxation (or “nudging”) was tested using observational asynoptic data collected at a coastal site in the Central Mediterranean peninsula of Calabria, southern Italy. The study is referred to an experimental campaign carried out in summer 2008. For this period a wind profiler, a sodar and two surface meteorological stations were considered. The collected measurements were used for the FDDA scheme, and the technique was incorporated into a tailored version of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). All instruments are installed and operated routinely at the experimental field of the CRATI-ISAC/CNR located at 600 m from the Tyrrhenian coastline. Several simulations were performed, and the results show that the assimilation of wind and/or temperature data, both throughout the simulation time (continuous FDDA) and for a 12 h time window (forecasting configuration), produces improvements of the model performance. Considering a whole single day, improvements are sub-stantial in the case of continuous FDDA while they are smaller in the case of forecasting configuration. En-hancements, during the first six hours of each run, are generally higher. The resulting meteorological fields are finalised as input into air quality and agro-meteorological models, for short-term predictions of renew-able energy production forecast, and for atmospheric model initialization.

Effect of Meteorological Data Assimilation on Regional Air Quality Forecasts over the Korean Peninsula

The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry(WRF-Chem),a type of online coupled chemistry-meteorology model(CCMM),considers the interaction between air quality and meteorology to improve air quality forecasting.Meteorological data assimilation(DA)can be used to reduce uncertainty in meteorological field,which is one factor causing prediction uncertainty in the CCMM.In this study,WRF-Chem and three-dimensional variational DA were used to examine the impact of meteorological DA on air quality and meteorological forecasts over the Korean Peninsula.The nesting model domains were configured over East Asia(outer domain)and the Korean Peninsula(inner domain).Three experiments were conducted by using different DA domains to determine the optimal model domain for the meteorological DA.When the meteorological DA was performed in the outer domain or both the outer and inner domains,the root-mean-square error(RMSE),bias of the predicted particulate matter(PM)concentrations,and the RMSE of predicted meteorological variables against the observations were smaller than those in the experiment where the meteorological DA was performed only in the inner domain.This indicates that the improvement of the synoptic meteorological fields by DA in the outer domain enhanced the meteorological initial and boundary conditions for the inner domain,subsequently improving air quality and meteorological predictions.Compared to the experiment without meteorological DA,the RMSE and bias of the meteorological and PM variables were smaller in the experiments with DA.The effect of meteorological DA on the improvement of PM predictions lasted for approximately 58-66 h,depending on the case.Therefore,the uncertainty reduction in the meteorological initial condition by the meteorological DA contributed to a reduction of the forecast errors of both meteorology and air quality.

Forming proper ensemble forecast initial members with four-dimensional variational data assimilation method

A method has been presented to improve ensemble forecast by utilizing these initial members generated by four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4-D VDA), to conquer limitation of those initial members generated by Monte Carlo forecast (MCF) or lagged average forecast (LAF). This method possesses significant statistical characteristic of MCF, and by virtue of LAF that contains multi-time information and its initial members are harmonic with

Development of a fine-resolution atmosphere-wave-ocean coupled forecasting model for the South China Sea and its adjacent seas

A 72-h fine-resolution atmosphere-wave-ocean coupled forecasting system was developed for the South China Sea and its adjacent seas. The forecasting model domain covers from from 15°S to 45°N in latitude and 99°E to135°E in longitude including the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Indonesian seas. To get precise initial conditions for the coupled forecasting model, the forecasting system conducts a 24-h hindcast simulation with data assimilation before forecasting. The Ensemble Adjustment Kalman Filter(EAKF) data assimilation method was adopted for the wave model MASNUM with assimilating Jason-2 significant wave height(SWH) data. The EAKF data assimilation method was also introduced to the ROMS model with assimilating sea surface temperature(SST), mean absolute dynamic topography(MADT) and Argo profiles data. To improve simulation of the structure of temperature and salinity, the vertical mixing scheme of the ocean model was improved by considering the surface wave induced vertical mixing and internal wave induced vertical mixing. The wave and current models were integrated from January 2014 to October 2015 driven by the ECMWF reanalysis 6 hourly mean dataset with data assimilation. Then the coupled atmosphere-wave-ocean forecasting system was carried out 14 months operational running since November 2015. The forecasting outputs include atmospheric forecast products, wave forecast products and ocean forecast products. A series of observation data are used to evaluate the coupled forecasting results, including the wind, SHW, ocean temperature and velocity.The forecasting results are in good agreement with observation data. The prediction practice for more than one year indicates that the coupled forecasting system performs stably and predict relatively accurate, which can support the shipping safety, the fisheries and the oil exploitation.

CORRECTION OF ASYMMETRIC STRENGTHENING OF QUIKSCAT WIND FIELD AND ASSIMILATION APPLICATION IN TYPHOON SIMULATION

As an approach to the technological problem that the wind data of QuikSCAT scatterometer cannot accurately describe the zone of typhoon-level strong wind speed, some objective factors such as the typhoon moving speed, direction and friction are introduced in this study to construct the asymmetric strengthening of the QuikSCAT wind field. Then by adopting a technology of four-dimensional data assimilation, an experiment that includes both the assimilation and forecasting phases is designed to simulate Typhoon Rananim numerically. The results show that with model constraints and adjustment, this technology can incorporate the QuikSCAT wind data to the entire column of the model atmosphere, improve greatly the simulating effects of the whole-column wind, pressure field and the track as well as the simulated typhoon intensity covered by the forecast phase, and work positively for the forecasting of landfall locations.

A baroclinic typhoon model with a moving multi-nested grid andvariational adjustment initializationII. Forecast experiments

A 3-dimensional baroclinic typhoon model with a moving multi-nested grid and its initialization are described first. Prediction results are improved by using a simple but effective data assimilation method in which the initial field is adjusted by the sixth hour's typhoon report and the weak-constraint variational principle. Finally someforecast examples made by this typhoon model are given.

Integrating VGI and 2D hydraulic models into a data assimilation framework for real time flood forecasting and mapping

Crowdsourced data can effectively observe environmental and urban ecosystem processes.The use of data produced by untrained people into flood forecasting models may effectively allow Early Warning Systems(EWS)to better perform while support decision-making to reduce the fatalities and economic losses due to inundation hazard.In this work,we develop a Data Assimilation(DA)method integrating Volunteered Geographic Information(VGI)and a 2D hydraulic model and we test its performances.The proposed framework seeks to extend the capabilities and performances of standard DA works,based on the use of traditional in situ sensors,by assimilating VGI while managing and taking into account the uncertainties related to the quality,and the location and timing of the entire set of observational data.The November 2012 flood in the Italian Tiber River basin was selected as the case study.Results show improvements of the model in terms of uncertainty with a significant persistence of the model updating after the integration of the VGI,even in the case of use of few-selected observations gathered from social media.This will encourage further research in the use of VGI for EWS considering the exponential increase of quality and quantity of smartphone and social media user worldwide.

扩展水凝物控制变量的雷达资料同化对台风“天鸽”数值模拟的影响

利用WRF(Weather Research and Forecast)模式及WRFDA(WRF model data assimilation system)系统,针对2017年台风“天鸽”个例通过同化雷达径向速度(Vr)和反射率因子(RF),研究水凝物控制变量的雷达资料同化对台风分析预报的影响。研究表明:雷达径向速度的直接同化有效地改进了模式初始场中台风涡旋区的中小尺度信息,分析场中产生了气旋性的风场增量,对模式背景场中的台风有显著增强作用。通过在传统控制变量中扩展针对水凝物的控制变量可有效地同化雷达反射率因子资料,对初始场的水物质进行调整,并对随后确定性预报的台风路径和强度都有一定的正效果。此外,相比没有水凝物控制变量的雷达同化试验,加入了水凝物控制变量的雷达资料同化试验降水预报效果更好。这为将我国近海的地基多普勒天气雷达用于台风初始化分析和预报提供了一定的技术支撑和保障。

Assimilation of Total Lightning Data Using the Three-Dimensional Variational Method at Convection-Allowing Resolution

A large number of observational analyses have shown that lightning data can be used to indicate areas of deep convection. It is important to assimilate observed lightning data into numerical models, so that more small-scale information can be incorporated to improve the quality of the initial condition and the subsequent forecasts. In this study, the empirical relationship between flash rate, water vapor mixing ratio, and graupel mixing ratio was used to adjust the model relative humidity, which was then assimilated by using the three-dimensional variational data assimilation system of the Weather Research and Forecasting model in cycling mode at 10-min intervals. To find the appropriate assimilation time-window length that yielded significant improvement in both the initial conditions and subsequent forecasts, four experiments with different assimilation time-window lengths were conducted for a squall line case that occurred on 10 July 2007 in North China. It was found that 60 min was the appropriate assimilation time-window length for this case, and longer assimilation window length was unnecessary since no further improvement was present. Forecasts of 1-h accumulated precipitation during the assimilation period and the subsequent 3-h accumulated precipitation were significantly improved compared with the control experiment without lightning data assimilation. The simulated reflectivity was optimal after 30 min of the forecast, it remained optimal during the following 42 min, and the positive effect from lightning data assimilation began to diminish after 72 min of the forecast. Overall,the improvement from lightning data assimilation can be maintained for about 3 h.

Statistics of the Z–R Relationship for Strong Convective Weather over the Yangtze–Huaihe River Basin and Its Application to Radar Reflectivity Data Assimilation for a Heavy Rain Event

The relationship between the radar reflectivity factor （Z） and the rainfall rate （R） is recalculated based on radar ob- servations from 10 Doppler radars and hourly rainfall measurements at 6529 automatic weather stations over the Yangtze-Huaihe River basin. The data were collected by the National 973 Project from June to July 2013 for severe convective weather events. The Z-R relationship is combined with an empirical qr-R relationship to obtain a new Z-qr relationship, which is then used to correct the observational operator for radar reflectivity in the three-dimensional variational （3DVar） data assimilation system of the Weather Research and Forecasting （WRF） model to im-prove the analysis and prediction of severe convective weather over the Yangtze--Huaihe River basin. The perform- ance of the corrected reflectivity operator used in the WRF 3DVar data assimilation system is tested with a heavy rain event that occurred over Jiangsu and Anhui provinces and the surrounding regions on 23 June 2013. It is noted that the observations for this event are not included in the calculation of the Z-R relationship. Three experiments are conducted with the WRF model and its 3DVar system, including a control run without the assimilation of reflectivity data and two assimilation experiments with the original and corrected refleetivity operators. The experimental results show that the assimilation of radar reflectivity data has a positive impact on the rainfall forecast within a few hours with either the original or corrected reflectivity operators, but the corrected reflectivity operator achieves a better per-forrnance on the rainfall forecast than the original operator. The corrected reflectivity operator extends the effective time of radar data assimilation for the prediction of strong reflectivity. The physical variables analyzed with the corrected reflectivity operator present more reasonable mesoscale structures than those obtained with the original re-flectivity operator. This suggests that the new statistical Z-R relationship is more suitable for predicting severe con- vective weather over the Yangtze-Huaihe River basin than the Z-R relationships currently in use.

变化环境下气象水文预报研究进展

随着全球气候变化、下垫面改变及高强度人类活动的不断加剧,流域降水、蒸发、径流等气象水文要素都受到直接性的影响,水文序列的一致性假设不复存在。在变化环境下,传统径流预报方法适用性逐步变差,从而对气象水文的精准预报带来挑战。本文分别从气象水文预报的各个环节——多源降水数据融合、数值天气预报、流域水文模型、参数率定、数据同化、集合预报等方面综述了变化环境下的气象水文预报的研究进展。可以看到,国内外学者围绕上述技术都开展了大量研究,并取得了大量成果。未来针对变化环境下气象水文预报研究,将主要围绕以下方向开展:(1)落地和预报降水精度及时空分辨率的进一步提高;(2)水文模型结构的改进及不确定性分析;(3)水文预报误差的描述方法及其可靠性。

AMSR2辐射率资料同化对台风“山神”分析和预报的影响研究

在WRFDA-3DVar(Weather Research and Forecasting model’s 3-dimensional variational data assimilation)的框架下,添加了新的探测器AMSR2(Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2)微波辐射率资料的同化模块,实现了AMSR2辐射率资料在中小尺度同化系统中的有效使用。台风"山神"(Son-Tinh)直接同化AMSR2资料的个例试验结果表明,AMSR2资料可以很好的探测出台风的形态,并且与没有同化该资料的控制试验相比,同化AMSR2辐射率资料可以有效提高模式分析场的质量,进一步提高了台风中心气压,最大风速和台风路径的预报。

FY-3A微波探测资料的直接同化应用及云雨条件下的亮温模拟

针对FY-3A星载微波垂直探测的同化应用,在扩展WRF3Dvar中FY-3A微波资料同化功能和快速辐射传输模式RTTOV微波云雨粒子散射RTTOV-SCATT模块接口的基础上,以2008年"凤凰"台风为研究对象,试验了FY-3A晴空条件下微波资料同化应用对数值预报的影响,并以此为控制试验,进一步讨论云检测方案和偏差订正调整对资料应用效果的作用。在WRF3Dvar同一框架下,使用RTTOV和CRTM云雨散射模块对云雨条件下FY-3A微波亮温进行模拟,分析云雨辐射效应对FY-3A微波温度和湿度传感器观测模拟的影响,并比较两个快速辐射传输模式结果间的异同。结果表明:本个例中FY-3A微波资料的使用对台风强度预报误差的减小比路径预报更为明显。云检测是影响卫星资料效能发挥的关键因素之一,3.0和5.0分别是MWTS和MWHS使用单窗区通道作为云检测时的合适阀值。使用FY-3A资料导出的偏差订正系数可以改善偏差订正结果,并提高预报准确率。此外,对于MWTS,通道1是受云雨粒子辐射效应影响最显著的通道,通道2同样具有明显影响。MWHS全部5个探测通道均受云雨粒子辐射效应影响,云雨条件下通道1、2的模拟偏差最大。RTTOV和CRTM的结果具有相同的统计特征,但CRTM云雨粒子辐射效应带来的偏差比RTTOV要大。

我国自主研制的全球/区域一体化数值天气预报系统GRAPES的应用与展望

介绍了中国气象局自主研制的新一代全球与区域一体化数值天气预报系统(GRAPES),着重讨论了该系统的全可压/非静力平衡动力框架,全球模式/区域模式一体化设计,半隐式-半拉格朗日差分方案,标准化、模块化、并行化、模式程序软件体系等核心技术特点。GRAPES系统已在国家级、区域级气象业务中心,以及一些大学和研究所得到应用,并在不断地完善和发展。

双校正模式下的大清河流域陆气耦合洪水预报研究

基于数值大气模式WRF、三维变分数据同化WRF-3DVar、河北雨洪模型以及实时校正模型ARMA,在北方半湿润半干旱地区的大清河流域构建了陆气耦合洪水预报系统,并利用2012、2013年发生的3场降雨洪水,对系统的降雨洪水预报结果进行分析。结果表明:雷达反射率与GTS数据的同时同化,可有效改善数值大气模式对中小尺度流域的降雨预报效果,从而降低系统的洪水预报误差,ARMA模型的应用,能够进一步提升系统的洪水预报精度,随着预见期的延长,系统的预报精度下降,但系统在6h预见期内仍表现出较好的应用效果。因此,在数据同化和实时校正的"双校正"模式下,陆气耦合洪水预报系统在延长洪水预报预见期的同时,具有较高的洪水预报精度,具有一定的应用前景。