scholarly journals Hydrologic data assimilation with a hillslope-scale-resolving model and L band radar observations: Synthetic experiments with the ensemble Kalman filter

2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro N. Flores ◽  
Rafael L. Bras ◽  
Dara Entekhabi
2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (12) ◽  
pp. 4489-4532 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Houtekamer ◽  
Fuqing Zhang

Abstract This paper reviews the development of the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) for atmospheric data assimilation. Particular attention is devoted to recent advances and current challenges. The distinguishing properties of three well-established variations of the EnKF algorithm are first discussed. Given the limited size of the ensemble and the unavoidable existence of errors whose origin is unknown (i.e., system error), various approaches to localizing the impact of observations and to accounting for these errors have been proposed. However, challenges remain; for example, with regard to localization of multiscale phenomena (both in time and space). For the EnKF in general, but higher-resolution applications in particular, it is desirable to use a short assimilation window. This motivates a focus on approaches for maintaining balance during the EnKF update. Also discussed are limited-area EnKF systems, in particular with regard to the assimilation of radar data and applications to tracking severe storms and tropical cyclones. It seems that relatively less attention has been paid to optimizing EnKF assimilation of satellite radiance observations, the growing volume of which has been instrumental in improving global weather predictions. There is also a tendency at various centers to investigate and implement hybrid systems that take advantage of both the ensemble and the variational data assimilation approaches; this poses additional challenges and it is not clear how it will evolve. It is concluded that, despite more than 10 years of operational experience, there are still many unresolved issues that could benefit from further research. Contents Introduction...4490 Popular flavors of the EnKF algorithm...4491 General description...4491 Stochastic and deterministic filters...4492 The stochastic filter...4492 The deterministic filter...4492 Sequential or local filters...4493 Sequential ensemble Kalman filters...4493 The local ensemble transform Kalman filter...4494 Extended state vector...4494 Issues for the development of algorithms...4495 Use of small ensembles...4495 Monte Carlo methods...4495 Validation of reliability...4497 Use of group filters with no inbreeding...4498 Sampling error due to limited ensemble size: The rank problem...4498 Covariance localization...4499 Localization in the sequential filter...4499 Localization in the LETKF...4499 Issues with localization...4500 Summary...4501 Methods to increase ensemble spread...4501 Covariance inflation...4501 Additive inflation...4501 Multiplicative inflation...4502 Relaxation to prior ensemble information...4502 Issues with inflation...4503 Diffusion and truncation...4503 Error in physical parameterizations...4504 Physical tendency perturbations...4504 Multimodel, multiphysics, and multiparameter approaches...4505 Future directions...4505 Realism of error sources...4506 Balance and length of the assimilation window...4506 The need for balancing methods...4506 Time-filtering methods...4506 Toward shorter assimilation windows...4507 Reduction of sources of imbalance...4507 Regional data assimilation...4508 Boundary conditions and consistency across multiple domains...4509 Initialization of the starting ensemble...4510 Preprocessing steps for radar observations...4510 Use of radar observations for convective-scale analyses...4511 Use of radar observations for tropical cyclone analyses...4511 Other issues with respect to LAM data assimilation...4511 The assimilation of satellite observations...4512 Covariance localization...4512 Data density...4513 Bias-correction procedures...4513 Impact of covariance cycling...4514 Assumptions regarding observational error...4514 Recommendations regarding satellite observations...4515 Computational aspects...4515 Parameters with an impact on quality...4515 Overview of current parallel algorithms...4516 Evolution of computer architecture...4516 Practical issues...4517 Approaching the gray zone...4518 Summary...4518 Hybrids with variational and EnKF components...4519 Hybrid background error covariances...4519 E4DVar with the α control variable...4519 Not using linearized models with 4DEnVar...4520 The hybrid gain algorithm...4521 Open issues and recommendations...4521 Summary and discussion...4521 Stochastic or deterministic filters...4522 The nature of system error...4522 Going beyond the synoptic scales...4522 Satellite observations...4523 Hybrid systems...4523 Future of the EnKF...4523 APPENDIX A...4524 Types of Filter Divergence...4524 Classical filter divergence...4524 Catastrophic filter divergence...4524 APPENDIX B...4524 Systems Available for Download...4524 References...4525


2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 1273-1292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Altuğ Aksoy ◽  
David C. Dowell ◽  
Chris Snyder

Abstract The quality of convective-scale ensemble forecasts, initialized from analysis ensembles obtained through the assimilation of radar observations using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), is investigated for cases whose behaviors span supercellular, linear, and multicellular organization. This work is the companion to Part I, which focused on the quality of analyses during the 60-min analysis period. Here, the focus is on 30-min ensemble forecasts initialized at the end of that period. As in Part I, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is employed as a simplified cloud model at 2-km horizontal grid spacing. Various observation-space and state-space verification metrics, computed both for ensemble means and individual ensemble members, are employed to assess the quality of ensemble forecasts comparatively across cases. While the cases exhibit noticeable differences in predictability, the forecast skill in each case, as measured by various metrics, decays on a time scale of tens of minutes. The ensemble spread also increases rapidly but significant outlier members or clustering among members are not encountered. Forecast quality is seen to be influenced to varying degrees by the respective initial soundings. While radar data assimilation is able to partially mitigate some of the negative effects in some situations, the supercell case, in particular, remains difficult to predict even after 60 min of data assimilation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf H. Reichle ◽  
Dennis B. McLaughlin ◽  
Dara Entekhabi

2014 ◽  
Vol 142 (6) ◽  
pp. 2118-2138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiguang Chang ◽  
Kao-Shen Chung ◽  
Luc Fillion ◽  
Seung-Jong Baek

Abstract An 80-member high-resolution ensemble Kalman filter (HREnKF) is implemented for assimilating radar observations with the Canadian Meteorological Center’s (CMC’s) Global Environmental Multiscale Limited-Area Model (GEM-LAM). This system covers the Montréal, Canada, region and assimilates radar data from the McGill Radar Observatory with 4-km data thinning. The GEM-LAM operates in fully nonhydrostatic mode with 58 hybrid vertical levels and 1-km horizontal grid spacing. As a first step toward full radar data assimilation, only radial velocities are directly assimilated in this study. The HREnKF is applied on three 2011 summer cases having different precipitation structures: squall-line structure, isolated small-scale structures, and widespread stratiform precipitation. The short-term (<2 h) accuracy of the HREnKF analyses and forecasts is examined. In HREnKF, the ensemble spread is sufficient to cover the estimated error from innovations and lead to filter convergence. It results in part from a realistic initiation of HREnKF data assimilation cycle by using a Canadian regional EnKF system (itself coupled to a global EnKF) working at meso- and synoptic scales. The filter convergence is confirmed by the HREnKF background fields gradually approaching to radar observations as the assimilation cycling proceeds. At each analysis step, it is clearly shown that unobserved variables are significantly modified through HREnKF cross correlation of errors from the ensemble. Radar reflectivity observations are used to verify the improvements in analyses and short-term forecasts achievable by assimilating only radial velocities. Further developments of the analysis system are discussed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (6) ◽  
pp. 1805-1824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Altuğ Aksoy ◽  
David C. Dowell ◽  
Chris Snyder

Abstract The effectiveness of the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) for assimilating radar observations at convective scales is investigated for cases whose behaviors span supercellular, linear, and multicellular organization. The parallel EnKF algorithm of the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) is used for data assimilation, while the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is employed as a simplified cloud model at 2-km horizontal grid spacing. In each case, reflectivity and radial velocity measurements are utilized from a single Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) within the U.S. operational network. Observations are assimilated every 2 min for a duration of 60 min and correction of folded radial velocities occurs within the EnKF. Initial ensemble uncertainty includes random perturbations to the horizontal wind components of the initial environmental sounding. The EnKF performs effectively and with robust results across all the cases. Over the first 18–30 min of assimilation, the rms and domain-averaged prior fits to observations in each case improve significantly from their initial levels, reaching comparable values of 3–6 m s−1 and 7–10 dBZ. Representation of mesoscale uncertainty, albeit in the simplest form of initial sounding perturbations, is a critical part of the assimilation system, as it increases ensemble spread and improves filter performance. In addition, assimilation of “no precipitation” observations (i.e., reflectivity observations with values small enough to indicate the absence of precipitation) serves to suppress spurious convection in ensemble members. At the same time, it is clear that the assimilation is far from optimal, as the ensemble spread is consistently smaller than what would be expected from the innovation statistics and the assumed observation-error variance.


Author(s):  
Nicolas Papadakis ◽  
Etienne Mémin ◽  
Anne Cuzol ◽  
Nicolas Gengembre

2016 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 955-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Ponsar ◽  
Patrick Luyten ◽  
Valérie Dulière

Icarus ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 209 (2) ◽  
pp. 470-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Hoffman ◽  
Steven J. Greybush ◽  
R. John Wilson ◽  
Gyorgyi Gyarmati ◽  
Ross N. Hoffman ◽  
...  

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