Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern China

This study examines the impact of three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) on the prediction of two heavy rainfall events over Southern China by using a real-time storm-scale forecasting system. Initialized from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) high-resol...

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Main Authors: Tuanjie Hou, Fanyou Kong, Xunlai Chen, Hengchi Lei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Advances in Meteorology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/129642
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author Tuanjie Hou
Fanyou Kong
Xunlai Chen
Hengchi Lei
author_facet Tuanjie Hou
Fanyou Kong
Xunlai Chen
Hengchi Lei
author_sort Tuanjie Hou
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the impact of three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) on the prediction of two heavy rainfall events over Southern China by using a real-time storm-scale forecasting system. Initialized from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) high-resolution data, the forecasting system is characterized by combining the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) model and the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) 3DVAR package. Observations from Doppler radars, surface Automatic Weather Station (AWS) network, and radiosondes are used in the experiments to evaluate the impact of data assimilation on short-term quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) skill. Results suggest that extrasurface AWS data assimilation has slight but general positive impact on rainfall location forecasts. Surface AWS data also improve model results of near-surface variables. Radiosonde data assimilation improves the QPF skill by improving rainfall position accuracy and reducing rainfall overprediction. Compared with radar data, the overall impact of additional surface and radiosonde data is smaller and is reflected primarily in reducing rainfall overestimation. The assimilation of all radar, surface, and radiosonde data has a more positive impact on the forecast skill than the assimilation of either type of data only for the two rainfall events.
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spelling doaj-art-d737096030ab498aaa169ff63f66fdb82025-08-20T02:19:31ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172013-01-01201310.1155/2013/129642129642Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern ChinaTuanjie Hou0Fanyou Kong1Xunlai Chen2Hengchi Lei3Laboratory of Cloud-Precipitation Physics and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaCenter for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USACenter for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USALaboratory of Cloud-Precipitation Physics and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaThis study examines the impact of three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) on the prediction of two heavy rainfall events over Southern China by using a real-time storm-scale forecasting system. Initialized from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) high-resolution data, the forecasting system is characterized by combining the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) model and the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) 3DVAR package. Observations from Doppler radars, surface Automatic Weather Station (AWS) network, and radiosondes are used in the experiments to evaluate the impact of data assimilation on short-term quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) skill. Results suggest that extrasurface AWS data assimilation has slight but general positive impact on rainfall location forecasts. Surface AWS data also improve model results of near-surface variables. Radiosonde data assimilation improves the QPF skill by improving rainfall position accuracy and reducing rainfall overprediction. Compared with radar data, the overall impact of additional surface and radiosonde data is smaller and is reflected primarily in reducing rainfall overestimation. The assimilation of all radar, surface, and radiosonde data has a more positive impact on the forecast skill than the assimilation of either type of data only for the two rainfall events.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/129642
spellingShingle Tuanjie Hou
Fanyou Kong
Xunlai Chen
Hengchi Lei
Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern China
Advances in Meteorology
title Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern China
title_full Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern China
title_fullStr Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern China
title_full_unstemmed Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern China
title_short Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation on the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall over Southern China
title_sort impact of 3dvar data assimilation on the prediction of heavy rainfall over southern china
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/129642
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