Search Results
You are looking at 1 - 8 of 8 items for :
- Author or Editor: Youngsun Jung x
- Weather and Forecasting x
- Refine by Access: All Content x
Abstract
A proof-of-concept systematic evaluation of convective hazards is applied to short-term (1–6 h) forecasts using the Morrison, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), Predicted Particle Properties (P3), and Thompson two-moment microphysics schemes for the 2018 NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Forecasting Experiment (HWT SFE) period (hereafter “MORR,” “NSSL,” “P3,” and “THOM” experiments, respectively). Four convective line cases are highlighted to elaborate on relative experiment biases/skill. Composite reflectivity and 1-h accumulated precipitation are examined to determine storm coverage/precipitation biases/skill utilizing point-based verification with a neighborhood. Simulated 1–6-km updraft helicity and observed 3–6-km azimuthal shear and MESH are examined to consider simulated rotation and hail core prediction with object-based scores. Over the full season, MORR displays little overall storm coverage bias relative to NSSL, P3, and THOM underprediction. The equitable threat score (ETS) and fractions skill score (FSS) of P3 are lower than the other experiments. P3 and THOM underpredict convective regions with intense reflectivity relative to MORR and NSSL overprediction. All experiments underpredict precipitation amounts. P3 light precipitation FSS is lower than other experiments. Rotation object verification exhibits sensitivity to microphysics experiments, as microphysics has an indirect influence on storm dynamics. While P3 has the largest hail object underprediction, all experiments grossly overpredict the number of hail objects in convective line cases despite forecast objects defined with the same product (MESH) and threshold as observations. The importance of microphysics ice parameterization and ongoing scheme updates highlight the need to apply this verification framework to optimal/updated schemes before optimizing ensemble design.
Abstract
A proof-of-concept systematic evaluation of convective hazards is applied to short-term (1–6 h) forecasts using the Morrison, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), Predicted Particle Properties (P3), and Thompson two-moment microphysics schemes for the 2018 NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Forecasting Experiment (HWT SFE) period (hereafter “MORR,” “NSSL,” “P3,” and “THOM” experiments, respectively). Four convective line cases are highlighted to elaborate on relative experiment biases/skill. Composite reflectivity and 1-h accumulated precipitation are examined to determine storm coverage/precipitation biases/skill utilizing point-based verification with a neighborhood. Simulated 1–6-km updraft helicity and observed 3–6-km azimuthal shear and MESH are examined to consider simulated rotation and hail core prediction with object-based scores. Over the full season, MORR displays little overall storm coverage bias relative to NSSL, P3, and THOM underprediction. The equitable threat score (ETS) and fractions skill score (FSS) of P3 are lower than the other experiments. P3 and THOM underpredict convective regions with intense reflectivity relative to MORR and NSSL overprediction. All experiments underpredict precipitation amounts. P3 light precipitation FSS is lower than other experiments. Rotation object verification exhibits sensitivity to microphysics experiments, as microphysics has an indirect influence on storm dynamics. While P3 has the largest hail object underprediction, all experiments grossly overpredict the number of hail objects in convective line cases despite forecast objects defined with the same product (MESH) and threshold as observations. The importance of microphysics ice parameterization and ongoing scheme updates highlight the need to apply this verification framework to optimal/updated schemes before optimizing ensemble design.
Abstract
Despite recent advances in storm-scale ensemble NWP, short-term (0–90 min) explicit forecasts of severe hail remain a major challenge as a result of the fast evolution and short time scales of hail-producing convective storms and the substantial uncertainty associated with the microphysical representation of hail. In this study, 0–90-min ensemble hail forecasts for the supercell storms of 20 May 2013 over central Oklahoma are examined and verified, with the goals of 1) evaluating ensemble forecast performance, 2) comparing the advantages and limitations of different forecast fields potentially suitable for the prediction of hail and severe hail in a Warn-on-Forecast setting, and 3) evaluating the use of dual-polarization radar observations for hail forecast validation. To address the challenges of hail prediction and to produce skillful forecasts, the ensemble uses a two-moment microphysics scheme that explicitly predicts a hail-like rimed-ice category and is run with a grid spacing of 500 m. Radar reflectivity factor and radial velocity, along with surface observations, are assimilated every 5 min for 1 h as the storms were developing to maturity, followed by a 90-min ensemble forecast. Several methods of hail prediction and hail forecast verification are then examined, including the prediction of the maximum hail size compared to Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground (mPING) hail observations, and verification of model data against single- and dual-polarization radar-derived fields including hydrometeor classification algorithm (HCA) output and the maximum estimated size of hail (MESH). The 0–90-min ensemble hail predictions are found to be marginally to moderately skillful depending on the verification method used.
Abstract
Despite recent advances in storm-scale ensemble NWP, short-term (0–90 min) explicit forecasts of severe hail remain a major challenge as a result of the fast evolution and short time scales of hail-producing convective storms and the substantial uncertainty associated with the microphysical representation of hail. In this study, 0–90-min ensemble hail forecasts for the supercell storms of 20 May 2013 over central Oklahoma are examined and verified, with the goals of 1) evaluating ensemble forecast performance, 2) comparing the advantages and limitations of different forecast fields potentially suitable for the prediction of hail and severe hail in a Warn-on-Forecast setting, and 3) evaluating the use of dual-polarization radar observations for hail forecast validation. To address the challenges of hail prediction and to produce skillful forecasts, the ensemble uses a two-moment microphysics scheme that explicitly predicts a hail-like rimed-ice category and is run with a grid spacing of 500 m. Radar reflectivity factor and radial velocity, along with surface observations, are assimilated every 5 min for 1 h as the storms were developing to maturity, followed by a 90-min ensemble forecast. Several methods of hail prediction and hail forecast verification are then examined, including the prediction of the maximum hail size compared to Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground (mPING) hail observations, and verification of model data against single- and dual-polarization radar-derived fields including hydrometeor classification algorithm (HCA) output and the maximum estimated size of hail (MESH). The 0–90-min ensemble hail predictions are found to be marginally to moderately skillful depending on the verification method used.
Abstract
In an effort to improve radar data assimilation configurations for potential operational implementation, GSI EnKF data assimilation experiments based on the operational system employed by the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) real-time Spring Forecast Experiments are performed. These experiments are followed by 6-h forecasts for an MCS on 28–29 May 2017. Configurations examined include data thinning, covariance localization radii and inflation, observation error settings, and data assimilation frequency for radar observations. The results show experiments that assimilate radar observations more frequently (i.e., 5–10 min) are initially better at suppressing spurious convection. However, assimilating observations every 5 min causes spurious convection to become more widespread with time, and modestly degrades forecast skill through the remainder of the forecast window. Ensembles that assimilate more observations with less thinning of data or use a larger horizontal covariance localization radius for radar data predict fewer spurious storms and better predict the location of observed storms. Optimized data thinning and horizontal covariance localization radii have positive impacts on forecast skill during the first forecast hour that are quickly lost due to the growth of forecast error. Forecast skill is less sensitive to the ensemble spread inflation factors and observation errors tested during this study. These results provide guidance toward optimizing the configuration of the GSI EnKF system. Among the DA configurations tested, the one employed by the CAPS Spring Forecast Experiment produces the most skilled forecasts while remaining computationally efficient for real-time use.
Abstract
In an effort to improve radar data assimilation configurations for potential operational implementation, GSI EnKF data assimilation experiments based on the operational system employed by the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) real-time Spring Forecast Experiments are performed. These experiments are followed by 6-h forecasts for an MCS on 28–29 May 2017. Configurations examined include data thinning, covariance localization radii and inflation, observation error settings, and data assimilation frequency for radar observations. The results show experiments that assimilate radar observations more frequently (i.e., 5–10 min) are initially better at suppressing spurious convection. However, assimilating observations every 5 min causes spurious convection to become more widespread with time, and modestly degrades forecast skill through the remainder of the forecast window. Ensembles that assimilate more observations with less thinning of data or use a larger horizontal covariance localization radius for radar data predict fewer spurious storms and better predict the location of observed storms. Optimized data thinning and horizontal covariance localization radii have positive impacts on forecast skill during the first forecast hour that are quickly lost due to the growth of forecast error. Forecast skill is less sensitive to the ensemble spread inflation factors and observation errors tested during this study. These results provide guidance toward optimizing the configuration of the GSI EnKF system. Among the DA configurations tested, the one employed by the CAPS Spring Forecast Experiment produces the most skilled forecasts while remaining computationally efficient for real-time use.
Abstract
NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory is actively developing phased-array radar (PAR) technology, a potential next-generation weather radar, to replace the current operational WSR-88D radars. One unique feature of PAR is its rapid scanning capability, which is at least 4–5 times faster than the scanning rate of WSR-88D. To explore the impact of such high-frequency PAR observations compared with traditional WSR-88D on severe weather forecasting, several storm-scale data assimilation and forecast experiments are conducted. Reflectivity and radial velocity observations from the 22 May 2011 Ada, Oklahoma, tornadic supercell storm are assimilated over a 45-min period using observations from the experimental PAR located in Norman, Oklahoma, and the operational WSR-88D radar at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The radar observations are assimilated into the ARPS model within a heterogeneous mesoscale environment and 1-h ensemble forecasts are generated from analyses every 15 min. With a 30-min assimilation period, the PAR experiment is able to analyze more realistic storm structures, resulting in higher skill scores and higher probabilities of low-level vorticity that align better with the locations of radar-derived rotation compared with the WSR-88D experiment. Assimilation of PAR observations for a longer 45-min time period generates similar forecasts compared to assimilating WSR-88D observations, indicating that the advantage of rapid-scan PAR is more noticeable over a shorter 30-min assimilation period. An additional experiment reveals that the improved accuracy from the PAR experiment over a shorter assimilation period is mainly due to its high-temporal-frequency sampling capability. These results highlight the benefit of PAR’s rapid-scan capability in storm-scale modeling that can potentially extend severe weather warning lead times.
Abstract
NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory is actively developing phased-array radar (PAR) technology, a potential next-generation weather radar, to replace the current operational WSR-88D radars. One unique feature of PAR is its rapid scanning capability, which is at least 4–5 times faster than the scanning rate of WSR-88D. To explore the impact of such high-frequency PAR observations compared with traditional WSR-88D on severe weather forecasting, several storm-scale data assimilation and forecast experiments are conducted. Reflectivity and radial velocity observations from the 22 May 2011 Ada, Oklahoma, tornadic supercell storm are assimilated over a 45-min period using observations from the experimental PAR located in Norman, Oklahoma, and the operational WSR-88D radar at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The radar observations are assimilated into the ARPS model within a heterogeneous mesoscale environment and 1-h ensemble forecasts are generated from analyses every 15 min. With a 30-min assimilation period, the PAR experiment is able to analyze more realistic storm structures, resulting in higher skill scores and higher probabilities of low-level vorticity that align better with the locations of radar-derived rotation compared with the WSR-88D experiment. Assimilation of PAR observations for a longer 45-min time period generates similar forecasts compared to assimilating WSR-88D observations, indicating that the advantage of rapid-scan PAR is more noticeable over a shorter 30-min assimilation period. An additional experiment reveals that the improved accuracy from the PAR experiment over a shorter assimilation period is mainly due to its high-temporal-frequency sampling capability. These results highlight the benefit of PAR’s rapid-scan capability in storm-scale modeling that can potentially extend severe weather warning lead times.
Abstract
The Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms has recently developed capabilities to directly assimilate radar reflectivity and radial velocity data within the GSI-based ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and hybrid ensemble three-dimensional variational (En3DVar) system for initializing convective-scale forecasts. To assess the performance of EnKF and hybrid En3DVar with different hybrid weights (with 100%, 20%, and 0% of static background error covariance corresponding to pure 3DVar, hybrid En3DVar, and pure En3DVar) for assimilating radar data in a Warn-on-Forecast framework, a set of data assimilation and forecast experiments using the WRF Model are conducted for six convective storm cases of May 2017. Using an object-based verification approach, forecast objects of composite reflectivity and 30-min updraft helicity swaths are verified against reflectivity and rotation track objects in Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor data on space and time scales typical of National Weather Service warnings. Forecasts initialized by En3DVar or the best performing EnKF ensemble member produce the highest object-based verification scores, while forecasts from 3DVar and the worst EnKF member produce the lowest scores. Averaged across six cases, hybrid En3DVar using 20% static background error covariance does not improve forecasts over pure En3DVar, although improvements are seen in some individual cases. The false alarm ratios of EnKF members for both composite reflectivity and updraft helicity at the initial time are lower than those from variational methods, suggesting that EnKF analysis reduces spurious reflectivity and mesocyclone objects more effectively.
Abstract
The Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms has recently developed capabilities to directly assimilate radar reflectivity and radial velocity data within the GSI-based ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and hybrid ensemble three-dimensional variational (En3DVar) system for initializing convective-scale forecasts. To assess the performance of EnKF and hybrid En3DVar with different hybrid weights (with 100%, 20%, and 0% of static background error covariance corresponding to pure 3DVar, hybrid En3DVar, and pure En3DVar) for assimilating radar data in a Warn-on-Forecast framework, a set of data assimilation and forecast experiments using the WRF Model are conducted for six convective storm cases of May 2017. Using an object-based verification approach, forecast objects of composite reflectivity and 30-min updraft helicity swaths are verified against reflectivity and rotation track objects in Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor data on space and time scales typical of National Weather Service warnings. Forecasts initialized by En3DVar or the best performing EnKF ensemble member produce the highest object-based verification scores, while forecasts from 3DVar and the worst EnKF member produce the lowest scores. Averaged across six cases, hybrid En3DVar using 20% static background error covariance does not improve forecasts over pure En3DVar, although improvements are seen in some individual cases. The false alarm ratios of EnKF members for both composite reflectivity and updraft helicity at the initial time are lower than those from variational methods, suggesting that EnKF analysis reduces spurious reflectivity and mesocyclone objects more effectively.
Abstract
A potential replacement candidate for the aging operational WSR-88D infrastructure currently in place is the phased array radar (PAR) system. The current WSR-88Ds take ~5 min to produce a full volumetric scan of the atmosphere, whereas PAR technology allows for full volumetric scanning of the same atmosphere every ~1 min. How this increase in temporal frequency of radar observations might affect the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s (NSSL) Warn-on-Forecast system (WoFS), which is a storm-scale ensemble data assimilation and forecast system for severe convective weather, is unclear. Since radar data assimilation is critical for the WoFS, this study explores the optimal temporal frequency of PAR observations for storm-scale data assimilation using the 31 May 2013 El Reno, Oklahoma, tornadic supercell event. The National Severe Storms Laboratory’s National Weather Radar Testbed PAR in Norman, Oklahoma, began scanning this event more than an hour before the first (and strongest) tornado developed near El Reno, and scanned most of the tornadic supercell’s evolution. Several experiments using various cycling and data frequencies to synchronously and asynchronously assimilate these PAR observations are conducted to produce analyses and very short-term forecasts of the El Reno supercell. Forecasts of low-level reflectivity and midlevel updraft helicity are subjectively evaluated and objectively verified using spatial and object-based techniques. Results indicate that assimilating more frequent PAR observations can lead to more accurate analyses and probabilistic forecasts of the El Reno supercell at longer lead times. Hence, PAR is a promising radar platform for WoFS.
Abstract
A potential replacement candidate for the aging operational WSR-88D infrastructure currently in place is the phased array radar (PAR) system. The current WSR-88Ds take ~5 min to produce a full volumetric scan of the atmosphere, whereas PAR technology allows for full volumetric scanning of the same atmosphere every ~1 min. How this increase in temporal frequency of radar observations might affect the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s (NSSL) Warn-on-Forecast system (WoFS), which is a storm-scale ensemble data assimilation and forecast system for severe convective weather, is unclear. Since radar data assimilation is critical for the WoFS, this study explores the optimal temporal frequency of PAR observations for storm-scale data assimilation using the 31 May 2013 El Reno, Oklahoma, tornadic supercell event. The National Severe Storms Laboratory’s National Weather Radar Testbed PAR in Norman, Oklahoma, began scanning this event more than an hour before the first (and strongest) tornado developed near El Reno, and scanned most of the tornadic supercell’s evolution. Several experiments using various cycling and data frequencies to synchronously and asynchronously assimilate these PAR observations are conducted to produce analyses and very short-term forecasts of the El Reno supercell. Forecasts of low-level reflectivity and midlevel updraft helicity are subjectively evaluated and objectively verified using spatial and object-based techniques. Results indicate that assimilating more frequent PAR observations can lead to more accurate analyses and probabilistic forecasts of the El Reno supercell at longer lead times. Hence, PAR is a promising radar platform for WoFS.
Abstract
A potential replacement candidate for the aging operational WSR-88D infrastructure currently in place is the phased array radar (PAR) system. The current WSR-88Ds take ~5 min to produce a full volumetric scan of the atmosphere, whereas PAR technology allows for full volumetric scanning of the same atmosphere every ~1 min. How this increase in temporal frequency of radar observations might affect the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s (NSSL) Warn-on-Forecast system (WoFS), which is a storm-scale ensemble data assimilation and forecast system for severe convective weather, is unclear. Since radar data assimilation is critical for the WoFS, this study explores the optimal temporal frequency of PAR observations for storm-scale data assimilation using the 31 May 2013 El Reno, Oklahoma, tornadic supercell event. The National Severe Storms Laboratory’s National Weather Radar Testbed PAR in Norman, Oklahoma, began scanning this event more than an hour before the first (and strongest) tornado developed near El Reno, and scanned most of the tornadic supercell’s evolution. Several experiments using various cycling and data frequencies to synchronously and asynchronously assimilate these PAR observations are conducted to produce analyses and very short-term forecasts of the El Reno supercell. Forecasts of low-level reflectivity and midlevel updraft helicity are subjectively evaluated and objectively verified using spatial and object-based techniques. Results indicate that assimilating more frequent PAR observations can lead to more accurate analyses and probabilistic forecasts of the El Reno supercell at longer lead times. Hence, PAR is a promising radar platform for WoFS.
Abstract
A potential replacement candidate for the aging operational WSR-88D infrastructure currently in place is the phased array radar (PAR) system. The current WSR-88Ds take ~5 min to produce a full volumetric scan of the atmosphere, whereas PAR technology allows for full volumetric scanning of the same atmosphere every ~1 min. How this increase in temporal frequency of radar observations might affect the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s (NSSL) Warn-on-Forecast system (WoFS), which is a storm-scale ensemble data assimilation and forecast system for severe convective weather, is unclear. Since radar data assimilation is critical for the WoFS, this study explores the optimal temporal frequency of PAR observations for storm-scale data assimilation using the 31 May 2013 El Reno, Oklahoma, tornadic supercell event. The National Severe Storms Laboratory’s National Weather Radar Testbed PAR in Norman, Oklahoma, began scanning this event more than an hour before the first (and strongest) tornado developed near El Reno, and scanned most of the tornadic supercell’s evolution. Several experiments using various cycling and data frequencies to synchronously and asynchronously assimilate these PAR observations are conducted to produce analyses and very short-term forecasts of the El Reno supercell. Forecasts of low-level reflectivity and midlevel updraft helicity are subjectively evaluated and objectively verified using spatial and object-based techniques. Results indicate that assimilating more frequent PAR observations can lead to more accurate analyses and probabilistic forecasts of the El Reno supercell at longer lead times. Hence, PAR is a promising radar platform for WoFS.
Abstract
Led by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and National Severe Storms Laboratory, annual spring forecasting experiments (SFEs) in the Hazardous Weather Testbed test and evaluate cutting-edge technologies and concepts for improving severe weather prediction through intensive real-time forecasting and evaluation activities. Experimental forecast guidance is provided through collaborations with several U.S. government and academic institutions, as well as the Met Office. The purpose of this article is to summarize activities, insights, and preliminary findings from recent SFEs, emphasizing SFE 2015. Several innovative aspects of recent experiments are discussed, including the 1) use of convection-allowing model (CAM) ensembles with advanced ensemble data assimilation, 2) generation of severe weather outlooks valid at time periods shorter than those issued operationally (e.g., 1–4 h), 3) use of CAMs to issue outlooks beyond the day 1 period, 4) increased interaction through software allowing participants to create individual severe weather outlooks, and 5) tests of newly developed storm-attribute-based diagnostics for predicting tornadoes and hail size. Additionally, plans for future experiments will be discussed, including the creation of a Community Leveraged Unified Ensemble (CLUE) system, which will test various strategies for CAM ensemble design using carefully designed sets of ensemble members contributed by different agencies to drive evidence-based decision-making for near-future operational systems.
Abstract
Led by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and National Severe Storms Laboratory, annual spring forecasting experiments (SFEs) in the Hazardous Weather Testbed test and evaluate cutting-edge technologies and concepts for improving severe weather prediction through intensive real-time forecasting and evaluation activities. Experimental forecast guidance is provided through collaborations with several U.S. government and academic institutions, as well as the Met Office. The purpose of this article is to summarize activities, insights, and preliminary findings from recent SFEs, emphasizing SFE 2015. Several innovative aspects of recent experiments are discussed, including the 1) use of convection-allowing model (CAM) ensembles with advanced ensemble data assimilation, 2) generation of severe weather outlooks valid at time periods shorter than those issued operationally (e.g., 1–4 h), 3) use of CAMs to issue outlooks beyond the day 1 period, 4) increased interaction through software allowing participants to create individual severe weather outlooks, and 5) tests of newly developed storm-attribute-based diagnostics for predicting tornadoes and hail size. Additionally, plans for future experiments will be discussed, including the creation of a Community Leveraged Unified Ensemble (CLUE) system, which will test various strategies for CAM ensemble design using carefully designed sets of ensemble members contributed by different agencies to drive evidence-based decision-making for near-future operational systems.
