Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

A Combined Approach to Improving the Regional Model Forecasts for the Rainy Season in China

Yanfeng Zhao State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

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Donghai Wang Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, and State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China

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Jianjun Xu College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 2017
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-17-0037.1
Page(s):
4593–4603
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Abstract

A combined forecasting methodology, into which the spectral nudging, lateral boundary filtering, and update initial conditions methods are incorporated, was employed in the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The intent was to investigate the potential for improving the prediction capability for the rainy season in China via using as many merits of the global model having better predictability as it does for the large-scale circulation and of the regional model as it does for the small-scale features. The combined methodology was found to be successful in improving the prediction of the regional atmospheric circulation and precipitation. It performed best for the larger magnitude precipitation, the relative humidity above 800 hPa, and wind fields below 300 hPa. Furthermore, the larger the magnitude and the longer the lead time, the more obvious is the improvement in terms of the accumulated rainfall of persistent severe rainfall events.

© 2017 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Donghai Wang, wangdh7@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Abstract

A combined forecasting methodology, into which the spectral nudging, lateral boundary filtering, and update initial conditions methods are incorporated, was employed in the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The intent was to investigate the potential for improving the prediction capability for the rainy season in China via using as many merits of the global model having better predictability as it does for the large-scale circulation and of the regional model as it does for the small-scale features. The combined methodology was found to be successful in improving the prediction of the regional atmospheric circulation and precipitation. It performed best for the larger magnitude precipitation, the relative humidity above 800 hPa, and wind fields below 300 hPa. Furthermore, the larger the magnitude and the longer the lead time, the more obvious is the improvement in terms of the accumulated rainfall of persistent severe rainfall events.

© 2017 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Donghai Wang, wangdh7@mail.sysu.edu.cn
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