An Examination of the Predictability of Tropical Cyclone Genesis in High-Resolution Coupled Models with Dynamically Downscaled Coupled Data Assimilation Initialization

Predicting tropical cyclone(TC)genesis is of great societal importance but scientifically challenging.It requires fineresolution coupled models that properly represent air−sea interactions in the atmospheric responses to local warm sea surface temperatures and feedbacks,with aid from coherent coupled initialization.This study uses three sets of highresolution regional coupled models(RCMs)covering the Asia−Pacific(AP)region initialized with local observations and dynamically downscaled coupled data assimilation to evaluate the predictability of TC genesis in the West Pacific.The APRCMs consist of three sets of high-resolution configurations of the Weather Research and Forecasting−Regional Ocean Model System(WRF-ROMS):27-km WRF with 9-km ROMS,and 9-km WRF with 3-km ROMS.In this study,a 9-km WRF with 9-km ROMS coupled model system is also used in a case test for the predictability of TC genesis.Since the local sea surface temperatures and wind shear conditions that favor TC formation are better resolved,the enhanced-resolution coupled model tends to improve the predictability of TC genesis,which could be further improved by improving planetary boundary layer physics,thus resolving better air−sea and air−land interactions.

A high-resolution Asia-Pacific regional coupled prediction system with dynamically downscaling coupled data assimilation

A regional coupled prediction system for the Asia-Pacific(AP-RCP)(38°E-180°,20°S-60°N) area has been established.The AP-RCP system consists of WRF-ROMS(Weather Research and Forecast,and Regional Ocean Model System) coupled models combined with local observational information through dynamically downscaling coupled data assimilation(CDA).The system generates 18-day forecasts for the atmosphere and ocean environment on a daily quasi-operational schedule at Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(Qingdao)(QNLM),consisting of 2 different-resolution coupled models:27 km WRF coupled with 9 km ROMS,9 km WRF coupled with 3 km ROMS,while a version of 3 km WRF coupled with 3 km ROMS is in a test mode.This study is a first step to evaluate the impact of high-resolution coupled model with dynamically downscaling CDA on the extended-range predictions,focusing on forecasts of typhoon onset,improved precipitation and typhoon intensity forecasts as well as simulation of the Kuroshio current variability associated with mesoscale oceanic activities.The results show that for realizing the extended-range predictability of atmospheric and oceanic environment characterized by statistics of mesoscale activities,a fine resolution coupled model resolving local mesoscale phenomena with balanced and coherent coupled initialization is a necessary first step.The next challenges include improving the planetary boundary physics and the representation of air-sea and air-land interactions to enable the model to resolve kilometer or sub-kilometer processes.