Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Dynamical Downscaling of ERA-Interim Temperature and Precipitation for Alaska

Peter A. Bieniek * International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska

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Uma S. Bhatt Geophysical Institute and Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska

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John E. Walsh * International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska

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T. Scott Rupp Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska

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Jing Zhang Department of Physics and Department of Energy and Environmental Systems, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina

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Jeremy R. Krieger Arctic Region Supercomputing Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska

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Rick Lader * International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska

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Print Publication:
01 Mar 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-15-0153.1
Page(s):
635–654
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Abstract

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) has been downscaled using a regional model covering Alaska at 20-km spatial and hourly temporal resolution for 1979–2013. Stakeholders can utilize these enhanced-resolution data to investigate climate- and weather-related phenomena in Alaska. Temperature and precipitation are analyzed and compared among ERA-Interim, WRF Model downscaling, and in situ observations. Relative to ERA-Interim, the downscaling is shown to improve the spatial representation of temperature and precipitation around Alaska’s complex terrain. Improvements include increased winter and decreased summer higher-elevation downscaled seasonal average temperatures. Precipitation is also enhanced over higher elevations in all seasons relative to the reanalysis. These spatial distributions of temperature and precipitation are consistent with the few available gridded observational datasets that account for topography. The downscaled precipitation generally exceeds observationally derived estimates in all seasons over mainland Alaska, and it is less than observations in the southeast. Temperature biases tended to be more mixed, and the downscaling reduces absolute bias at higher elevations, especially in winter. Careful selection of data for local site analysis from the downscaling can help to reduce these biases, especially those due to inconsistencies in elevation. Improved meteorological station coverage at higher elevations will be necessary to better evaluate gridded downscaled products in Alaska because biases vary and may even change sign with elevation.

Corresponding author address: Peter A. Bieniek, 930 Koyukuk Dr., P.O. Box 757340, Fairbanks, AK 99775. E-mail: pbieniek@alaska.edu

Abstract

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) has been downscaled using a regional model covering Alaska at 20-km spatial and hourly temporal resolution for 1979–2013. Stakeholders can utilize these enhanced-resolution data to investigate climate- and weather-related phenomena in Alaska. Temperature and precipitation are analyzed and compared among ERA-Interim, WRF Model downscaling, and in situ observations. Relative to ERA-Interim, the downscaling is shown to improve the spatial representation of temperature and precipitation around Alaska’s complex terrain. Improvements include increased winter and decreased summer higher-elevation downscaled seasonal average temperatures. Precipitation is also enhanced over higher elevations in all seasons relative to the reanalysis. These spatial distributions of temperature and precipitation are consistent with the few available gridded observational datasets that account for topography. The downscaled precipitation generally exceeds observationally derived estimates in all seasons over mainland Alaska, and it is less than observations in the southeast. Temperature biases tended to be more mixed, and the downscaling reduces absolute bias at higher elevations, especially in winter. Careful selection of data for local site analysis from the downscaling can help to reduce these biases, especially those due to inconsistencies in elevation. Improved meteorological station coverage at higher elevations will be necessary to better evaluate gridded downscaled products in Alaska because biases vary and may even change sign with elevation.

Corresponding author address: Peter A. Bieniek, 930 Koyukuk Dr., P.O. Box 757340, Fairbanks, AK 99775. E-mail: pbieniek@alaska.edu
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Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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