An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain Cases

Abstract An ensemble perturbation approach focusing on Atmospheric Instability Perturbation was proposed. This approach perturbs diagnostics quantifying atmospheric instability and calculates corresponding model state perturbations through a data assimilation‐like procedure, with flexibility enhance...

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Main Authors: S. Wang, J. Min, X. Li, X. Qiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004556
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author S. Wang
J. Min
X. Li
X. Qiao
author_facet S. Wang
J. Min
X. Li
X. Qiao
author_sort S. Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract An ensemble perturbation approach focusing on Atmospheric Instability Perturbation was proposed. This approach perturbs diagnostics quantifying atmospheric instability and calculates corresponding model state perturbations through a data assimilation‐like procedure, with flexibility enhanced through the numerical estimation of derivatives of diagnostic equations. The amplitude perturbation of moist potential vorticity (MPV) measuring convective (MPV1) and baroclinic instability (MPV2) is investigated. Flow‐dependent characteristics of MPV amplitude perturbations are observed through single‐point tests, with the MPV2 perturbation enhancing the temperature gradient in the baroclinic instability area. For 10 heavy rain cases in Eastern China during the summer of 2019, the ensemble using the combination of a positive MPV2 amplitude perturbation and a negative MPV1 amplitude perturbation outperforms the ensemble with the downscaled Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) perturbations. This superiority of MPV perturbations is attributed to their ability to capture more precipitation events through enhancing the instability environment, which is conducive to both convection initialization and precipitation intensity. However, the MPV perturbations contribute less to the heavy rain probability forecast skill and reliability, because more false alarms are produced. The experimental results also indicate the necessity of cycle perturbation of MPV during forecasting, as the forecast model may underestimate instability after the initial condition perturbation impact diminishes. Considering that all types of model state perturbations adjust atmospheric instability, with most instability adjustments being secondary outcomes, the results of MPV amplitude perturbations highlight the effectiveness of directly perturbing atmospheric instability in ensemble precipitation forecasting.
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publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
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spelling doaj-art-da751a6bf02e49e7b44c6cbe9c013e992025-08-20T01:50:18ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems1942-24662025-03-01173n/an/a10.1029/2024MS004556An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain CasesS. Wang0J. Min1X. Li2X. Qiao3Nanjing Innovation Institute for Atmospheric Sciences Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences–Jiangsu Meteorological Service Nanjing ChinaNanjing University of Information Science and Technology Nanjing ChinaNanjing Innovation Institute for Atmospheric Sciences Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences–Jiangsu Meteorological Service Nanjing ChinaNanjing Innovation Institute for Atmospheric Sciences Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences–Jiangsu Meteorological Service Nanjing ChinaAbstract An ensemble perturbation approach focusing on Atmospheric Instability Perturbation was proposed. This approach perturbs diagnostics quantifying atmospheric instability and calculates corresponding model state perturbations through a data assimilation‐like procedure, with flexibility enhanced through the numerical estimation of derivatives of diagnostic equations. The amplitude perturbation of moist potential vorticity (MPV) measuring convective (MPV1) and baroclinic instability (MPV2) is investigated. Flow‐dependent characteristics of MPV amplitude perturbations are observed through single‐point tests, with the MPV2 perturbation enhancing the temperature gradient in the baroclinic instability area. For 10 heavy rain cases in Eastern China during the summer of 2019, the ensemble using the combination of a positive MPV2 amplitude perturbation and a negative MPV1 amplitude perturbation outperforms the ensemble with the downscaled Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) perturbations. This superiority of MPV perturbations is attributed to their ability to capture more precipitation events through enhancing the instability environment, which is conducive to both convection initialization and precipitation intensity. However, the MPV perturbations contribute less to the heavy rain probability forecast skill and reliability, because more false alarms are produced. The experimental results also indicate the necessity of cycle perturbation of MPV during forecasting, as the forecast model may underestimate instability after the initial condition perturbation impact diminishes. Considering that all types of model state perturbations adjust atmospheric instability, with most instability adjustments being secondary outcomes, the results of MPV amplitude perturbations highlight the effectiveness of directly perturbing atmospheric instability in ensemble precipitation forecasting.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004556ensemble forecastmoist potential vorticityperturbation
spellingShingle S. Wang
J. Min
X. Li
X. Qiao
An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain Cases
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
ensemble forecast
moist potential vorticity
perturbation
title An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain Cases
title_full An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain Cases
title_fullStr An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain Cases
title_full_unstemmed An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain Cases
title_short An Atmospheric Instability Perturbation Approach for Ensemble Forecasts and Its Application in Heavy Rain Cases
title_sort atmospheric instability perturbation approach for ensemble forecasts and its application in heavy rain cases
topic ensemble forecast
moist potential vorticity
perturbation
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004556
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