2007年国内台风模式路径预报效果评估

使用中央气象台提供的台风中心定位报文资料、国内台风业务预报部门提供的台风模式路径预报报文资料和台风所气候持续性方法路径预报报文资料等,对2007年中央气象台编号的热带气旋对国内5种台风业务数值预报模式的路径预报效果进行了检验评估,检验内容主要包括距离误差、技巧评分和稳定度指标等.结果表明:(1)国内各模式24h/48h预报平均距离误差最小值为122.8km/246.3km,最大值为180.7km/304.4km.各模式24h/48h预报最大误差为1429.7km/1003.7km, 最小误差为11.2km/10.1km.24h/48h预报平均距离误差为147km/267km.平均而言,导致路径预报误差最大的是0707号热带气旋帕布,误差在其登陆后尤为明显.(2)相对于上海台风研究所路径预报气候持续法做了各种数值预报方法的技巧评分:各模式24h/48h预报平均技巧评分为32%/43%,最高的技巧评分为48%/54%, 最低的技巧评分为3.17%/33.53%.其中4个模式的24h/48h技巧评分高于36%/33%.(3)检验了距离稳定度、方向稳定度、有效稳定度等指标,以全面评估各模式的路径预报性能.该评估结果在一定程度上反映了当前国内台风路径数值预报相对于常用气候统计方法的优越性,同时也表明,尽管国内台风数值预报模式对于热带气旋在海上时的路径预报有一定的稳定性,但对热带气旋登陆后转向过程的预报表现出了较大误差.因此,在模式开发的下一步工作中,除台风初始化之外,还应结合登陆台风的特点,对边界层和陆面过程参数化等作针对性的研究.     

热带气旋路径数值模式业务试验性能分析

在中国气象局数值预报创新基地开发的GRAPES基础上,建立了热带气旋路径预报系统(GRAPES-TCM)。并对2002、2003年热带气旋进行了一系列时间为48 h的路径后报试验,对2004年的热带气旋路径进行准业务预报。针对热带气旋路径预报的分析表明,GRAPES-TCM对热带气旋路径具有良好的预报能力。比较了2004年GRAPES-TCM准业务预报同北京数值预报和日本数值预报的结果,GRAPES-TCM的预报结果比北京的好,与日本数值预报相比仍有较大的差距。GRAPES-TCM计算的总的热带气旋24、48 h平均距离误差大约为150、250 km。GRAPES-TCM计算的热带气旋路径的平均距离误差随着其初始强度的增强而减小,台风级的热带气旋路径的24 h平均距离误差仅为111 km,48 h平均距离误差也在210 km左右,与此同时,预报的强热带风暴的24和48 h平均距离误差则为166.6和242.6 km。GRAPES-TCM后报的"突然转向"和"突然变速"热带气旋的平均距离误差24 h达到280 km,48 h则在300 km左右,超过其总的平均距离误差。对于"回旋"路径的热带气旋也有一定的预报能力。对不同分辨率的对比试验结果表明,提高GRAPES-TCM的分辨率可为稍长时间的热带气旋路径预报提供更为可靠的结果,2004年的热带气旋路径预报的48 h平均距离误差不到200 km。     

2013年欧洲中心台风集合预报的检验

广州中心气象台利用中国气象局下发的欧洲中心台风集合预报数据,制作了台风集合预报产品,供业务参考应用。利用欧洲中心台风集合预报数据,对2013年1307—1331号热带气旋的集合预报路径和强度进行检验,通过对比集合平均、模式高分辨率确定性预报和预报员主观预报,发现路径集合平均在24~120 h预报误差最小;在有限的预报样本数中,从热带风暴到台风级别的热带气旋,各预报时效路径集合平均的误差随强度增强而减小;强引导气流背景下的热带气旋预报误差小于弱引导气流的误差。对比强度集合平均和模式高分辨率确定性预报,发现各时效集合平均的误差比确定性预报大,随着预报时效的延长误差没有明显增大或减小的趋势,而且强度集合平均预报,在中心最低气压、中心最大风速、热带气旋等级都表现出明显的系统性偏弱特征;对不同级别的热带气旋强度预报,集合平均的误差随强度增强而增大,即强度集合预报对强度较弱的热带气旋有更高的准确率;对比受强、弱引导气流影响的两类热带气旋,集合平均对受弱引导气流影响的一类预报误差更小。     

云迹风在热带气旋路径数值预报中的应用研究

通过一系列四维变分同化试验对GMS5卫星资料反演的云迹风资料在西北太平洋热带气旋的初始化及路径数值预报中的作用进行研究,同化资料为中国国家卫星气象中心提供的GMS5水汽和红外云迹风资料,其中70%在400hPa以上,50%集中在200～300hPa。应用美国NCAR/PSU中尺度模式MM5及其四维变分同化系统,同化窗口为6h,对初始时刻和6h后的云迹风进行同化。同化前对云迹风资料进行了简单的类似ECMWF初值检验方法的质量控制。对2002年8个西北太平洋热带气旋共进行了22组试验。结果表明,采用四维变分同化技术同化云迹风对热带气旋路径预报有一定改善,12,24,36和48h预报的平均距离误差分别降低5%,12%,10%和7%,但同化云迹风的作用与初始气旋强度有关。选择初始中心海平面气压960hPa作为强、弱气旋的分类标准,则11个较强气旋平均路径误差12h减小了13%,12h以后的预报误差减小率维持在20%以上。而对于11个较弱气旋,平均路径误差反而略有增加,说明同化云迹风资料对不同初始强度的气旋作用也有所不同。其主要原因是由于强度较强的热带气旋往往具有较为深厚的垂直结构,因此受高层大气流场的影响更明显;同时,较弱热带气旋的云迹风观测相对稀少且凌乱,并且更容易受环境气流的影响,因此对于较弱的热带气旋,当模式变量与模式或变量之间在同化后不够协调的话,就会产生负效应。     

垂直分层加密和预报区域扩大对GRAPES_TYM台风预报的影响

为提升GRAPES_TYM对西北太平洋和中国南海热带气旋路径及强度的预报能力、增加对北印度洋热带气旋的预报,2019年8月GRAPES_TYM 3.0版投入业务运行。GRAPES_TYM 3.0版的模式垂直分层由GRAPES_TYM 2.2版的50层增加到68层;预报区域由覆盖西北太平洋、中国南海扩展到覆盖北印度洋。试验结果显示:模式垂直分层增加可以改进模式对强台风及超强台风的预报能力,减小平均路径预报误差、显著减小平均强度预报误差以及强度预报负偏差;模式预报区域扩大到覆盖北印度洋对平均路径误差和平均强度误差影响不显著,但长时效预报比较敏感,如20°N以北热带气旋120 h预报路径。2016—2018年的回算结果与NCEP-GFS和ECMWF的预报结果对比分析表明:GRAPES_TYM 3.0版的平均路径误差与NCEP-GFS接近,同ECMWF相比误差较大;但24—96 h强度预报误差明显小于NCEP-GFS和ECMWF,NCEP-GFS和ECMWF对热带气旋强度预报存在明显的负偏差。综上所述,模式垂直分层由50层增加到68层对热带气旋强度预报至关重要,而长时效路径预报对模式预报区域扩大到覆盖北印度洋更为敏感。      

西北太平洋(含南海)热带气旋路径集成预报分析

基于2004—2009 年中国中央气象台、日本气象厅、美国联合台风警报中心、欧洲中心对西北太平洋和南海编号热带气旋主客观预报资料,利用算术平均、多元回归以及历史平均误差等三种集成方法,建立了热带气旋路径集成预报业务化系统。通过2007—2009 年的业务运行结果分析发现,欧洲中心客观预报参与的24、48 和72 h 集成比主观预报三个成员集成预报水平分别提高约2%、3%～5%和3%～5%,减小误差2.5 km左右、6～9 km 和10～12 km。技巧分析发现,24～72 h 集成预报有正技巧,多元回归集成技巧相对稍低,而算术平均和以各成员平均误差的平方倒数为权重系数的集成技巧对于各集成成员来说技巧差异不大。96 h 集成预报对欧洲中心的客观预报没有正技巧。      

T213与T639模式热带气旋预报误差对比

应用国家气象中心全球谱模式T213L31(简称T213) 及其升级版本T639L60(简称T639) 对2009—2010年西北太平洋热带气旋数值预报的结果进行对比。结果表明:T213与T639模式24～120 h预报平均距离误差基本相近,但由于T639模式分辨率较高,T639模式的热带气旋强度预报明显好于T213模式。从分类误差来看,T639模式对于西北行登陆及转向热带气旋的路径预报好于T213模式,但对西行及北上热带气旋预报误差偏大。对于异常路径热带气旋预报,T639模式能较好预报环流形势的突然调整,对路径突变的热带气旋预报比T213模式有明显优势;从登陆类热带气旋预报的移向误差来看,T213模式存在东北偏北向系统性偏差,T639模式存在东北偏东向系统性偏差。     

人工智能技术的热带气旋预报综述(之一)——BP神经网络和集成方法的热带气旋预报研究和业务应用

热带气旋路径和强度的客观定量预报是当前热带气旋预报研究和业务预报工作中的重点和难点。简要介绍了有关热带气旋业务预报技术的研究现状,综述了人工智能神经网络技术方法中最广泛使用的BP神经网络模型、进化计算遗传算法—神经网络的热带气旋路径、强度集成预报方法,以及近十多年来,这些方法在实际业务预报中与国内外主要数值预报模式及其他客观预报方法预报性能的对比分析,指出了人工智能神经网络和遗传神经网络集成预报方法等在热带气旋强度、路径预报中的优势和不足,并提出了未来更深入研究需要关注的重点关键问题。     

2002年西北太平洋和南海热带气旋路径主客观预报评价

利用目前中央气象台热带气旋路径实时业务预报中使用的各种主客观预报产品资料,对2002年西北太平洋和南海热带气旋路径实时业务预报中的主客观预报进行对比分析检验。结果显示：虽然在整体上主观预报要优于客观模式的结果,但客观模式的预报能力已接近主观预报,有时甚至还好于主观预报,特别是48小时以上时效的客观模式较主观预报具有一定的优势;而在客观模式中,全球模式优于台风模式;热带气旋路径数值模式产品的使用对提高热带气旋路径业务预报水平具有十分重要的作用。     

热带气旋路径集合预报方法研究Ⅰ——正压模式结果的初步分析

选择1979～1993年间的热带气旋为试验个例,通过扰动热带气旋初始位置和初始结构,构造集合成员, 用正压原始方程模式,进行路径集合预报试验, 并初步探讨预报成员的集合方法。试验结果表明:热带气旋定位误差影响路径预报,但扰动初始位置的集合平均预报与控制试验的预报水平相接近。扰动热带气旋初始结构的集合预报试验表明,约有60 %～70 %个例的集合路径预报得到改进。此外,试验结果还表明,当环境引导气流较弱时,进行扰动热带气旋初始结构的集合预报,预报结果的改善较明显。     

Ensemble Forecasts of Tropical Cyclone Track with Orthogonal Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbations

This paper preliminarily investigates the application of the orthogonal conditional nonlinear optimal perturbations(CNOPs)–based ensemble forecast technique in MM5(Fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model). The results show that the ensemble forecast members generated by the orthogonal CNOPs present large spreads but tend to be located on the two sides of real tropical cyclone(TC) tracks and have good agreements between ensemble spreads and ensemble-mean forecast errors for TC tracks. Subsequently, these members reflect more reasonable forecast uncertainties and enhance the orthogonal CNOPs–based ensemble-mean forecasts to obtain higher skill for TC tracks than the orthogonal SVs(singular vectors)–, BVs(bred vectors)– and RPs(random perturbations)–based ones. The results indicate that orthogonal CNOPs of smaller magnitudes should be adopted to construct the initial ensemble perturbations for short lead–time forecasts, but those of larger magnitudes should be used for longer lead–time forecasts due to the effects of nonlinearities. The performance of the orthogonal CNOPs–based ensemble-mean forecasts is case-dependent,which encourages evaluating statistically the forecast skill with more TC cases. Finally, the results show that the ensemble forecasts with only initial perturbations in this work do not increase the forecast skill of TC intensity, which may be related with both the coarse model horizontal resolution and the model error.     

Evaluation of Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasts from Five Global EnsemblePrediction Systems During 2015-2019

This study presented an evaluation of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity forecasts from five global ensemble prediction systems (EPSs) during 2015-2019 in the western North Pacific region. Notable error features include the underestimation of the TC intensity by ensemble mean forecast and the under-dispersion of the probability forecasts.The root mean square errors (brier scores) of the ensemble mean (probability forecasts) generally decrease consecutively at long lead times during the five years, but fluctuate between certain values at short lead times.Positive forecast skill appeared in the most recent two years (2018-2019) at 120 h or later as compared with the climatology forecasts. However, there is no obvious improvement for the intensity change forecasts during the 5-yearperiod, with abrupt intensity change remaining a big challenge. The probability forecasts show no skill for strongTCs at all the lead times. Among the five EPSs, ECMWF-EPS ranks the best for the intensity forecast, while NCEP-GEFS ranks the best for the intensity change forecast, according to the evaluation for ensemble mean and dispersion. As for the other probability forecast evaluation, ECMWF-EPS ranks the best at lead times shorter than 72 h, while NCEP-GEFS ranks the best later on.     

OPERATIONAL ENSEMBLE FORECASTING AND ANALYSIS OF TROPICAL CYCLONES OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC (INCLUDING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA)

Based on the tropical cyclone data from the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, Japan Meteorological Agency, Joint Typhoon Warning Center and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts （ECMWF） during the period of 2004 to 2009, three consensus methods are used in tropical cyclone （TC） track forecasts. Operational consensus results show that the objective forecasts of ECMWF help to improve consensus skill by 2%, 3%-5% and 3%-5%, decrease track bias by 2.5 kin, 6-9 km and 10-12 km for the 24 h, 48 h and 72 h forecasts respectively over the years of 2007 to 2009. Analysis also indicates that consensus forecasts hold positive skills relative to each member. The multivariate regression composite is a method that shows relatively low skill, while the methods of arithmetic averaging and composite （in which the weighting coefficient is the reciprocal square of mean error of members） have almost comparable skills among members. Consensus forecast for a lead time of 96 h has negative skill relative to the ECMWF objective forecast.     

Possible Sources of Forecast Errors Generated by the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System for Landfalling Tropical Cyclones. Part Ⅱ: Model Uncertainty

This paper investigates the possible sources of errors associated with tropical cyclone (TC) tracks forecasted using the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES). In Part I, it is shown that the model error of GRAPES may be the main cause of poor forecasts of landfalling TCs. Thus, a further examination of the model error is the focus of Part II. Considering model error as a type of forcing, the model error can be represented by the combination of good forecasts and bad forecasts. Results show that there are systematic model errors. The model error of the geopotential height component has periodic features, with a period of 24 h and a global pattern of wavenumber 2 from west to east located between 60°S and 60°N. This periodic model error presents similar features as the atmospheric semidiurnal tide, which reflect signals from tropical diabatic heating, indicating that the parameter errors related to the tropical diabatic heating may be the source of the periodic model error. The above model errors are subtracted from the forecast equation and a series of new forecasts are made. The average forecasting capability using the rectified model is improved compared to simply improving the initial conditions of the original GRAPES model. This confirms the strong impact of the periodic model error on landfalling TC track forecasts. Besides, if the model error used to rectify the model is obtained from an examination of additional TCs, the forecasting capabilities of the corresponding rectified model will be improved.     

STUDY OF THE MODIFICATION OF MULTI-MODEL ENSEMBLE SCHEMES FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECASTS

This study investigates multi-model ensemble forecasts of track and intensity of tropical cyclones over the western Pacific, based on forecast outputs from the China Meteorological Administration, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Japan Meteorological Agency and National Centers for Environmental Prediction in the THORPEX Interactive Grand Global Ensemble (TIGGE) datasets. The multi-model ensemble schemes, namely the bias-removed ensemble mean (BREM) and superensemble (SUP), are compared with the ensemble mean (EMN) and single-model forecasts. Moreover, a new model bias estimation scheme is investigated and applied to the BREM and SUP schemes. The results showed that, compared with single-model forecasts and EMN, the multi-model ensembles of the BREM and SUP schemes can have smaller errors in most cases. However, there were also circumstances where BREM was less skillful than EMN, indicating that using a time-averaged error as model bias is not optimal. A new model bias estimation scheme of the biweight mean is introduced. Through minimizing the negative influence of singular errors, this scheme can obtain a more accurate model bias estimation and improve the BREM forecast skill. The application of the biweight mean in the bias calculation of SUP also resulted in improved skill. The results indicate that the modification of multi-model ensemble schemes through this bias estimation method is feasible.     

Possible sources of forecast errors generated by the global/regional assimilation and prediction system for landfalling tropical cyclones. Part I: Initial uncertainties

This paper investigates the possible sources of errors associated with tropical cyclone (TC) tracks forecasted using the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES). The GRAPES forecasts were made for 16 landfalling TCs in the western North Pacific basin during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, with a forecast length of 72 hours, and using the default initial conditions (“initials”, hereafter), which are from the NCEP-FNL dataset, as well as ECMWF initials. The forecasts are compared with ECMWF forecasts. The results show that in most TCs, the GRAPES forecasts are improved when using the ECMWF initials compared with the default initials. Compared with the ECMWF initials, the default initials produce lower intensity TCs and a lower intensity subtropical high, but a higher intensity South Asia high and monsoon trough, as well as a higher temperature but lower specific humidity at the TC center. Replacement of the geopotential height and wind fields with the ECMWF initials in and around the TC center at the initial time was found to be the most efficient way to improve the forecasts. In addition, TCs that showed the greatest improvement in forecast accuracy usually had the largest initial uncertainties in TC intensity and were usually in the intensifying phase. The results demonstrate the importance of the initial intensity for TC track forecasts made using GRAPES, and indicate the model is better in describing the intensifying phase than the decaying phase of TCs. Finally, the limit of the improvement indicates that the model error associated with GRAPES forecasts may be the main cause of poor forecasts of landfalling TCs. Thus, further examinations of the model errors are required.     

A study of the connection between tropical cyclone track and intensity errors in the WRF model

This study examines the dependence of the tropical cyclone (TC) intensity errors on the track errors in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) model. By using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction global final analysis as the initial and boundary conditions for cloud-resolving simulations of TC cases that have small track errors, it is found that the 2- and 3-day intensity errors in the North Atlantic basin can be reduced to 15 and 19 % when the track errors decrease to 55 and 76 %, respectively, whereas the 1-day intensity error shows no significant reduction despite more than 30 % decrease of the 1-day track error. For the North-Western Pacific basin, the percentage of intensity reduction is somewhat similar with the 2- and 3-day intensity errors improved by about 15 and 19 %, respectively. This suggests that future improvement of the TC track forecast skill in the WRF-ARW model will be beneficial to the intensity forecast. However, the substantially smaller percentages of intensity improvement than those of the track error improvement indicate that ambient environment tends to play a less important role in determining the TC intensity as compared to other factors related to the vortex initialization or physics representations in the WRF-ARW model.     

Possible Sources of Forecast Errors Generated by the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System for Landfalling Tropical Cyclones. Part Ⅰ: Initial Uncertainties

This paper investigates the possible sources of errors associated with tropical cyclone(TC) tracks forecasted using the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System(GRAPES). The GRAPES forecasts were made for 16 landfalling TCs in the western North Pacific basin during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, with a forecast length of 72 hours, and using the default initial conditions("initials", hereafter), which are from the NCEP-FNL dataset, as well as ECMWF initials. The forecasts are compared with ECMWF forecasts. The results show that in most TCs, the GRAPES forecasts are improved when using the ECMWF initials compared with the default initials. Compared with the ECMWF initials, the default initials produce lower intensity TCs and a lower intensity subtropical high, but a higher intensity South Asia high and monsoon trough, as well as a higher temperature but lower specific humidity at the TC center. Replacement of the geopotential height and wind fields with the ECMWF initials in and around the TC center at the initial time was found to be the most efficient way to improve the forecasts. In addition, TCs that showed the greatest improvement in forecast accuracy usually had the largest initial uncertainties in TC intensity and were usually in the intensifying phase. The results demonstrate the importance of the initial intensity for TC track forecasts made using GRAPES, and indicate the model is better in describing the intensifying phase than the decaying phase of TCs. Finally, the limit of the improvement indicates that the model error associated with GRAPES forecasts may be the main cause of poor forecasts of landfalling TCs. Thus, further examinations of the model errors are required.     

Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Intensity Guidance Evaluations Using an Alternative Verification Technique

In this study, six intensity forecast guidance techniques from the East China Regional Meteorological Center are verified for the 2008 and 2009 typhoon seasons through an alternative forecast verification technique. This technique is used to verify intensity forecasts if those forecasts call for a typhoon to dissipate or if the real typhoon dissipates. Using a contingency table, skill scores, chance, and probabilities are computed. It is shown that the skill of the six tropical cyclone intensity guidance techniques was highest for the 12-h forecasts, while the lowest skill of all the six models did not occur in 72-h forecasting. For both the 2008 and 2009 seasons, the average probabilities of the forecast intensity having a small error (6 m s-1) tended to decrease steadily. Some of the intensity forecasts had small skill scores, but the associated probabilities of the forecast intensity errors > 15 m s-1 were not the highest.