chapter 4 summery Flashcards

1
Q

Model domain refers to:

A
  • Model’s forecast area of coverage
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2
Q

Numerical models divide into:

A
  • Global models
    • Covering the whole globe
  • Regional models
    • Covering a more limited area
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3
Q

Limited area models (LAM) boundaries

A
  • Horizontal (lateral)
  • Top and bottom (vertical)
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4
Q

Global models boundaries:

A
  • One vertical boundary (by nature cover the entire earth)
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5
Q

Domain of an NWP model can be viewed as:

A
  • 3D array of cubes
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6
Q

Describe the NWP model 3D array cubes:

A
  • Each cube encompasses a volume of the atmosphere corresponding to a model grid point
  • Forecast values for met variables in each cube are derived from
    • The current values within the cubes + from the surrounding cubes
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7
Q

Information needed to provide forecast values for the meteorological parameters. Why?

A
  • Cannot be determined using only the data contained in the model
  • Because he cubes on the boundaries are not surrounded by other cubes on all sides
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8
Q

How to solve the problem?

A
  • The information from the outside boundaries must be supplied from another source (boundary conditions)
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9
Q

Global model merits:

A
  • Global coverage
  • Don’t require boundary conditions
  • Necessary at longer lead times when weather at a location is effected by distant weather system
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10
Q

Global model drawbacks:

A
  • Coarse spatial resolution
    • Need parameterization of sub grid scale physical processes
  • On a regular latitude-longitude grid, the grid boxes will become smaller in the longitude direction near the poles (high possibility of CFL condition violation)
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11
Q

Regional models merits:

A
  • Higher resolution
    • Higher spatial resolution
      • Do not require parameterization of some physical processes
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12
Q

Regional models drawbacks:

A
  • Require boundary conditions
  • (for boundary conditions) regional models depend on global models
  • Parameterization required for physical processes smaller than the grid size
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13
Q

Requirements to solve the forecast equations:

A
  • Accurate information
    • for all forecast variables and
    • Along each model boundary
      • Lateral
      • Top
      • Bottom
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14
Q

How is the lateral boundary conditions data supplied to LAM?

A
  • Using large-domain models
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15
Q

Boundary values are obtained from:

A
  • Observed data
    • Data assimilation system
  • Forecast values from a current or previous cycle of a large scale model (LBC in LAM)
  • Climatological or fixed values
    • For specifying some surface characteristics such as
      • Soil moisture
      • SST
      • Vegetation type
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16
Q

Favorable source of boundary values is:

A
  • Observed data
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17
Q

Favorable source of lateral boundary conditions values is:

A
  • Previous run of a large domain model
18
Q

Factor effecting the quality of LAM predictions

A
  • Quality of predictions produced by the model supplying the LBC
19
Q

Consequence of errors in forecast from large domain model:

A
  • Error will move into the LAM’s forecast domain and amplify
20
Q

LBC control:

A
  • Position
  • Evolution of features that cover the entire forecast domain
21
Q

Longwave patterns are largely determined by

A
  • Boundary conditions
22
Q

Weaker impacts are noted on

A
  • Jet streaks and fronts
    • Regions far downwind from the upstream boundary
23
Q

Synoptic scale model supplying the boundary conditions determine

A
  • The placement and
  • Timing of synoptic scale features
24
Q

Influence of boundary conditions:

A
  • Spread away from (downstream) of the boundary
  • Effects amplify downstream
25
**Preferable area of primary forecast concern:**
* As far from the boundaries as possible * Especially the upstream boundary
26
**Boundary influence is carried by:**
* The wind
27
**…………………….. and ……………………. Will vary from one flow regime to another**
* The wind and * The direction of greatest forecast impact
28
**Forecasters should pay attention to**
* How long it takes a trajectory to move from the model boundary to the vicinity of their forecast area
29
**How to reduce the influence of boundary errors within the area of interest:**
* Placing the upstream boundary well outside the forecast area
30
**One-way interaction:**
* If information flows in one direction, from larger domain model to the smaller domain model
31
**Nested model:**
* Some LAM (eg. MM5) are run with small-area, finer-resolution grids nested inside of coarser-resolution grids within the same model
32
**Nesting is necessary because:**
* Computer memory ad speed limitations prohibit fine-resolution grids from covering the entire model domain
33
**How information from outer boundaries are supplied to nested grid models:**
* Supplied from an outside source using one-way interaction
34
**Interface between the grids inside the nested grid model are determined from:**
* The forecasts within the model itself
35
**The forecast variables for the coarse grid are updated based on:**
* Fine grid prediction * Where the fine grid covers the coarse grid
36
**Two way interaction:**
* Coarse-grid prediction affects the fine grid prediction by * Supplying boundary conditions on the mesh surface * (this information flows both ways)
37
**Weather forecasting is:**
* An initial value problem (IVP): * The outcome is significantly determined by the conditions given at the start
38
**To produce a forecast for tomorrow you need:**
* To start by determining, as precisely as possible, the state of the atmosphere today
39
**The initial conditions describe:**
* The state of the atmosphere (at grid points) at the starting point of the forecast
40
**Initial conditions include:**
* The 3D fields of the forecast variables (u,v,w,T,p..) over the model domain
41
**The initial conditions are obtained from:**
* The observed data and * Previous forecast Through a process known as data assimilation
42
**Local winds upstream and downstream:**
The same direction of local wind is downstream boundary while if it is opposite to the local wind it is upstream