An Fso-Based Optimization Framework for Improved Observation Performance: Theoretical Formulation and Experiments with NAVDAS-AR/NAVGEM

Published In

Monthly Weather Review

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

6-1-2022

Abstract

The forecast sensitivity to observations (FSO) is embedded into a new optimization framework for improving the observation performance in atmospheric data assimilation. Key ingredients are introduced as follows: the innovation-weight parameterization of the analysis equation, the FSO-based evaluation of the forecast error gradient to parameters, a line search approach to optimization, and an efficient mechanism for step length specification. This methodology is tested in preliminary numerical experiments with the Naval Research Laboratory Atmospheric Variational Data Assimilation System-Accelerated Representer (NAVDAS-AR) and the U.S. Navy's Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM) at a T425L60 resolution. The experimental setup relies on a verification state produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) to estimate the analysis and short-range forecast errors. Parameter tuning is implemented in a training stage valid for 1-14 April 2018 and aimed at improving the use of assimilated observations in reducing the initial-condition errors. Assessment is carried out for 15 April-31 May 2018 to investigate the performance of the weighted assimilation system in reducing the errors in analyses and 24-h model forecasts. In average, as compared with the control run and verified against the ECMWF analyses, the weighted approach provided 17.4% reduction in analysis errors and 3.1% reduction in 24-h forecast errors, measured in a dry total energy norm. Observation impacts are calculated to assess the use of various observation types in reducing the analysis and forecast errors. In particular, assimilation of satellite wind data is significantly improved through the innovation-weighting procedure.

Rights

© 2022 American Meteorological Society.

DOI

10.1175/MWR-D-21-0305.1

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38788

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