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A Regional GSI-BASED Ensemble Kalman Filter Data Assimilation System For The Rapid Refresh Configuration: Testing at Reduced Resolution

Abstract

A regional ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) system is established for potential Rapid Refresh (RAP) operational application. The system borrows data processing and observation operators from the gridpoint statistical interpolation (GSI), and precalculates observation priors using the GSI. The ensemble square root Kalman filter (EnSRF) algorithm is used, which updates both the state vector and observation priors. All conventional observations that are used in the operational RAP GSI are assimilated. To minimize computational costs, the EnKF is run at ⅓ of the operational RAP resolution or about 40-km grid spacing, and its performance is compared to the GSI using the same datasets and resolution. Short-range (up to 18 h, the RAP forecast length) forecasts are verified against soundings, surface observations, and precipitation data. Experiments are run with 3-hourly assimilation cycles over a 9-day convectively active retrospective period from spring 2010. The EnKF performance was improved by extensive tuning, including the use of height-dependent covariance localization scales and adaptive covariance inflation. When multiple physics parameterization schemes are employed by the EnKF, forecast errors are further reduced, especially for relative humidity and temperature at the upper levels and for surface variables. The best EnKF configuration produces lower forecast errors than the parallel GSI run. Gilbert skill scores of precipitation forecasts on the 13-km RAP grid initialized from the 3-hourly EnKF analyses are consistently better than those from GSI analyses.

Article / Publication Data
Active/Online
YES
Volume
141
Available Metadata
Accepted On
May 02, 2013
DOI ↗
Fiscal Year
Peer Reviewed
YES
Publication Name
Monthly Weather Review
Published On
November 01, 2013
Final Online Publication On
November 01, 2013
Publisher Name
American Meteorological Society
Print Volume
141
Print Number
11
Page Range
4118-4139
Issue
11
Submitted On
January 25, 2013
URL ↗

Authors

Authors who have authored or contributed to this publication.