Gillian Baxter University of Reading Departments of Mathematics and Meteorology Supervisors: N. K....

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Gillian Baxter

University of ReadingDepartments of Mathematics and Meteorology

Supervisors: N. K. Nichols, S. L. Dance, A. S. Lawless, S. P. BallardSponsored by NERC and CASE studentship with the Met Office

Multiscale Data Assimilation for High

Resolution Nested Models

Contents

A brief introduction to Data Assimilation High resolution models The “long wave” problem A few numerical results Conclusions

In order to run a weather forecasting model we need initial conditions.

We want initial conditions which most accurately describe the observed reality.

Data Assimilation allows us to combine observational data with a previous model forecast (background).

The initial conditions are known as the “analysis”.

What is data assimilation?

t

kkkkk

Tkkkb

Tb hhJ

0

11 ))(())((21

)()(21

)( xyRxyxxBxxx

time

ax

bx

4D-Var

constrained by the numerical model kk Mxx 1

Accurate forecasting of convective storms is important because these storms can lead to dangerous flooding events, such as the Boscastle flood in 2004.

High resolution models

Pictures from BBC website

Boscastle Flood: Comparison of 00 UTC 12, 4 and 1 km forecasts

12-18 from 00 UTC12km

12-18 from 00 UTC4km

12-18 from 00 UTC1km

Actual peak accumulations reached about 200 mm (gauge), 130 mm (2 km radar)

Plots from the Met Office, slide provided by S. L. Dance

If we want a model with high resolution it can only have a limited domain size due to restrictions in computer power.

This can create some problems;

• The “long wave problem”.

• A limited area model (LAM) needs boundary conditions.

Met Office HRTM domains

The “long wave” problem

The 1D heat equationxxt uu

2

1,11,1,11,,

/

)2(

xt

uuuuu kikikikiki

Discretisation

where

with homogeneous boundary conditions

Some numerical results Model set up

buffer zone buffer zone

Truth

LAM

Parent model

Boundary conditions provided by the parent model

0625.0x 0125.0t

the LAM has 4 times the spatial resolution and 16 times the temporal resolution of the parent model

The truth has twice the spatial resolution and 4 times the temporal resolution of the LAM

domain is [0,1]

the LAM starts at the first internal grid point of the parent model and covers exactly half of its domain

The 1D heat equationxxt uu

2

1,11,1,11,,

/

)2(

xt

uuuuu kikikikiki

Discretisation

Davies Relaxation scheme

Gi

Li

newi uuu )1(

]/)1[(1 bi where b is the width of the buffer

where

Model set up

with homogeneous boundary conditions

Aim:

To consider and compare the treatment in the parent model and the LAM of wavelengths which are

1.Shorter than the resolution of the parent model

Parent model outputs

)8sin()4sin()2sin(2 iii zzztruth

--- truth--- parent background__ parent analysis + observations

ii xz 2where

LAM model outputs

--- truth--- parent analysis__ LAM analysis+ observations

)8sin()4sin()2sin(2 iii zzztruth

ii xz 2where

LAM domain

__ LAM__ parent model__ truth

The Discrete Fourier Transform of the function is

wavenumber the is and1,,0 ,2

where kNjN

jj

kiN

jjkj

jefffDFT

)(

1

0

~

jf

Wavenumber k

2~

|| kf

Aim:

To consider and compare the treatment in the parent model and the LAM of wavelengths which are

1. Shorter than the resolution of the parent model

2.Longer than the domain of the LAM

__ LAM__ parent model__ truth

10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Wavenumber k

2~

|| kf

)8sin()4sin()2sin(2)sin(2 iii zzzzitruth

Summary

The LAM can represent wavelengths that are missed by the parent model.

However, the LAM may actually be worse at reproducing the longer wavelengths.

When the wavelength is longer than the domain of the LAM it cannot be correctly reproduced.

Future Work

The “long wave” information is important and the challenge is how to assimilate observations of these “long waves” in order to feed information from the large scales into the analysis for the limited area model.

One option may be to split the scales. Take longer wavenumbers from the parent model and shorter wavenumbers from the LAM.

Plot taken from “Development of 1-4km Resolution Data Assimilation for Nowcasting at the Met Office”. S. Ballard, Z. Li, M. Dixon, S. Swarbrick, O. Stiller and H. Lean. WMO Nowcasting Meeting Abstract 3.02

Parent model outputs

--- truth--- parent background__ parent analysis + observations

)8sin()4sin()2sin(2)sin(2 iii zzzzitruth

ii xz 2where

LAM model outputs

--- truth--- parent analysis__ LAM analysis+ observations

)8sin()4sin()2sin(2)sin(2 iii zzzzitruth

ii xz 2where