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    Original Research Papers

    Flow-dependent versus flow-independent initial perturbations for ensemble prediction

    Authors:

    Linus Magnusson ,

    Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, SE
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    Jonas Nycander,

    Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, SE
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    Erland Källén

    Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, SE
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    Abstract

    Ensemble prediction relies on a faithful representation of initial uncertainties in a forecasting system. Early research on initial perturbation methods tested random perturbations by adding ‘white noise’ to the analysis. Here, an alternative kind of random perturbations is introduced by using the difference between two randomly chosen atmospheric states (i.e. analyses). It yields perturbations (random field, RF, perturbations) in approximate flow balance.

    The RF method is compared with the operational singular vector based ensemble at European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the ensemble transform (ET) method. All three methods have been implemented on the ECMWFIFS-model with resolution TL255L40. The properties of the different perturbation methods have been investigated both by comparing the dynamical properties and the quality of the ensembles in terms of different skill scores. The results show that the RF perturbations initially have the same dynamical properties as the natural variability of the atmosphere. After a day of integration, the perturbations from all three methods converge. The skill scores indicate a statistically significant advantage for the RF method for the first 2–3 d for the most of the evaluated parameters. For the medium range (3–8 d), the differences are very small.

    How to Cite: Magnusson, L., Nycander, J. and Källén, E., 2009. Flow-dependent versus flow-independent initial perturbations for ensemble prediction. Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography, 61(2), pp.194–209. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0870.2008.00385.x
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      Published on 01 Jan 2009
    Peer Reviewed
     CC BY 4.0
     Accepted on 27 Nov 2008            Submitted on 12 Jun 2008

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