Correcting Forecast Time Biases in CMA-MESO Using Himawari-9 and Time-Shift Method

The accurate forecasting of time, intensity, and spatial distribution is fundamental to weather prediction. However, the limitations of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, as well as uncertainties in inital conditions, often lead to temporal biases in forecasts. This study addresses these bia...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xingtao Song, Wei Han, Haofei Sun, Hao Wang, Xiaofeng Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/4/617
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The accurate forecasting of time, intensity, and spatial distribution is fundamental to weather prediction. However, the limitations of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, as well as uncertainties in inital conditions, often lead to temporal biases in forecasts. This study addresses these biases by employing visible reflectance data from the Himawari-9/AHI satellite and RTTOV (TOVS radiation transfer) simulations derived from CMA-MESO model outputs. The time-shift method was applied to analyze two precipitation events—20 October 2023 and 30 April 2024—in order to assess its impact on precipitation forecasts. The results indicate the following: (1) the time-shift method improved cloud simulations, necessitating a 30 min advance for Case 1 and a 3.5 h delay for Case 2; (2) time-shifting reduced the standard deviation of observation-minus-background (OMB) bias in certain regions and enhanced spatial uniformity; (3) the threat score (TS) demonstrated an improvement in forecast accuracy, particularly in cases exhibiting significant movement patterns. The comparative analysis demonstrates that the time-shift method effectively corrects temporal biases in NWP models, providing forecasters with a valuable tool to optimize predictions through the integration of high-temporal- and spatial-resolution visible light data, thereby leading to more accurate and reliable weather forecasts.
ISSN:2072-4292