Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Use of Four Reanalysis Datasets to Assess the Terrestrial Branch of the Water Cycle over Quebec, Canada

Florent Sabarly Department of Construction Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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Gilles Essou Department of Construction Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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Philippe Lucas-Picher Department of Construction Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec, and Centre pour l'étude et la simulation du climat à l'échelle régionale, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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Annie Poulin Department of Construction Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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François Brissette Department of Construction Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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Print Publication:
01 May 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-15-0093.1
Page(s):
1447–1466
Restricted access

Abstract

Reanalyses have the potential to provide meteorological information in areas where few or no traditional observation records are available. The terrestrial branch of the water cycle of CFSR, MERRA, ERA-Interim, and NARR is examined over Quebec, Canada, for the 1979–2008 time period. Precipitation, evaporation, runoff, and water balance are studied using observed precipitation and streamflows, according to three spatial scales: 1) the entire province of Quebec, 2) five regions derived from a climate classification, and 3) 11 river basins. The results reveal that MERRA provides a relatively closed water balance, while a significant residual was found for the other three reanalyses. MERRA and ERA-Interim seem to provide the most reliable precipitation over the province. On the other hand, precipitation from CFSR and NARR do not appear to be particularly reliable, especially over southern Quebec, as they almost systematically showed the highest and the lowest values, respectively. Moreover, the partitioning of precipitation into evaporation and runoff from MERRA and NARR does not agree with what was expected, particularly over southern, central, and eastern Quebec. Despite the weaknesses identified, the ability of reanalyses to reproduce the terrestrial water cycle of the recent past (i.e., 1979–2008) remains globally satisfactory. Nonetheless, their potential to provide reliable information must be validated by comparing reanalyses directly with weather stations, especially in remote areas.

Corresponding author address: Florent Sabarly, Dept. of Construction Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada. E-mail: florent.sabarly@gmail.com

Abstract

Reanalyses have the potential to provide meteorological information in areas where few or no traditional observation records are available. The terrestrial branch of the water cycle of CFSR, MERRA, ERA-Interim, and NARR is examined over Quebec, Canada, for the 1979–2008 time period. Precipitation, evaporation, runoff, and water balance are studied using observed precipitation and streamflows, according to three spatial scales: 1) the entire province of Quebec, 2) five regions derived from a climate classification, and 3) 11 river basins. The results reveal that MERRA provides a relatively closed water balance, while a significant residual was found for the other three reanalyses. MERRA and ERA-Interim seem to provide the most reliable precipitation over the province. On the other hand, precipitation from CFSR and NARR do not appear to be particularly reliable, especially over southern Quebec, as they almost systematically showed the highest and the lowest values, respectively. Moreover, the partitioning of precipitation into evaporation and runoff from MERRA and NARR does not agree with what was expected, particularly over southern, central, and eastern Quebec. Despite the weaknesses identified, the ability of reanalyses to reproduce the terrestrial water cycle of the recent past (i.e., 1979–2008) remains globally satisfactory. Nonetheless, their potential to provide reliable information must be validated by comparing reanalyses directly with weather stations, especially in remote areas.

Corresponding author address: Florent Sabarly, Dept. of Construction Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada. E-mail: florent.sabarly@gmail.com
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