SWISS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ANNUAL JOINT WMO
TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORT ON THE GLOBAL DATA-PROCESSING AND FORECASTING SYSTEM (GDPFS) AND
NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (NWP) FOR 2010
1 Summary of highlights
AUTHOR: ALEX RUBLI
Considerable investments have been made in 2010 to maintain the ITC infrastructure on a high standard at MeteoSwiss.
The number if incoming METAR and AMDAR Messages has increased significantly.
MeteoSwiss is now running operationally the real-time object-oriented nowcasting tool TRT Thunderstorms Radar Tracking), as a part of its severe thunderstorms nowcasting, warning and information system. The multiple-radar-based automatic heavy precipitation alert system (system NASS) has been implemented. As part of the WMO-WWRP forecast demonstration project MAP D-PHASE and the European concerted research action COST-731, MeteoSwiss developed an ensemble technique to characterize the residual errors in radar precipitation fields.
The TRAJEK (trajectory) and LPDM (Lagrange Particle Dispersion) model is being run with COSMO-2 and COSMO-7 data in support of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).
MeteoSwiss issues long range forecasts (up to 7 months) on the basis of the ECMWF seasonal forecast model “System 3”. The operational products include climagrams, probability charts and tercile data for surface temperature, precipitation and geopotential height.
Objective verification of short term forecasts revealed 2010 a skill of 86 % vs a persistence skill of
66 %. This is some improvement compared to 2009 when the skill reached 85 % vs a persistence skill of 67 %.
2 Equipment in use at the Centre
AUTHOR: STEFAN SANDMEIER
HP desktops and Dell laptops are used as clients throughout the organization. Sun Sparc workstations are less and less in operation and will be phased out in the years to come.
The server infrastructure mainly consists of Sun Solaris machines and a HP Cluster Windows server environment. In addition, Linux servers have been added to complement the infrastructure demands of the business applications. As a main emphasis, Sun Solaris servers were renewed and upgraded to the Solaris 10 Operating System. Likewise, the Windows servers were upgraded to the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Operating System.
Both, Sun Solaris and Windows Servers are increasingly dominated by virtualization technology.
3 Data and Products from GTS in use
AUTHOR: ESTELLE GRÜTER
At present nearly all observational data from GTS are used. Further in use are GRIB data from Bracknell, Washington and Offenbach as well as T4-charts from Bracknell and Washington. Additionally most of MOTNE and OPMET data are used as well.
The number of incoming messages of all different types has increased since 2009. The number of METAR messages has increased about on third. The number of T4 increased slightly. An enormous increase can be reported for AIREP/AMDAR.Typical figures on message input for 24 hours are:
SYNOP, SYNOP Ship36273
TEMP Part A + B5763
PILOT Part A + B1695
METAR169057
TAF short/long50322
AIREP/AMDAR14981
GRIB33569
T4 (BUFR, FAXG3)30794
BATHY/TESAC6278
DRIFTER6733
4 Forecasting system
4.1 System run schedule and forecast ranges
4.1.1 Operational techniques for application of NWP products (MOS, PPM, KF, Expert
4.1.1.1 In operation
Kalman filtering of 2 m temperature on ECMWF high resolution model.
A MOS (MOSMIX) based on the ECMWF and GME models is provided by DWD.
4.2 Nowcasting and Very Short-range Forecasting Systems (0-6 hrs)
AUTHORS: URS GERMANN/ALESSANDRO HERING/IGOR GIUNTA
4.2.1 Nowcasting system
4.2.1.1Tracking and characterization of convective cells by radar
(system TRT)
MeteoSwiss runs operationally the real-time object-oriented nowcasting tool TRT Thunderstorms Radar Tracking), as a part of its severe thunderstorms nowcasting, warning and information system.
For a detailed description see “WMO_GDPS-Report_2006”.
4.2.1.2Quantitative precipitation estimation by radar (product RAIN)
4.2.1.3Automatic heavy precipitation alert system (system NASS)
The multiple-radar-based nowcasting application NASS is specifically designed for situations with heavy precipitation. NASS was implemented to generate automatic alerts whenever accumulated ra-dar rainfall exceeds a predefined threshold for periods of 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours.
For a detailed description see “WMO_GDPS-Report_2006”.
4.2.2 Research performed in this field
4.2.2.1 Ensemble technique for radar precipitation fields (technique REAL)
As part of the WMO-WWRP forecast demonstration project MAP D-PHASE and the European con-certed research action COST-731 MeteoSwiss developed an ensemble technique to characterize the residual errors in radar precipitation fields. Each member of the radar ensemble is a possible realization of the unknown true precipitation field given the observed radar field and knowledge of the space-time error structure of radar precipitation estimates. Feeding the alternative realizations into a hydro-logical model yields a distribution of response values, the spread of which represents the sensitivity of runoff to uncertainties in the input radar precipitation field. The presented ensemble generator is based on singular value decomposition of the error covariance matrix, stochastic simulation using the LU decomposition algorithm, and autoregressive filtering. The real-time implementation of the radar ensemble generator coupled with a semi-distributed hydrological model in the framework of MAP DPHASE is one of the first experiments of this type worldwide.
For a detailed description see Germann et al, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 135, 445-456, 2009.
4.2.2.2Nowcasting heavy orographic precipitation using Doppler radar and
radiosounding (project COST-731)
MeteoSwiss is currently developing as part of COST-731 a novel heuristic system for nowcasting heavy precipitation in the Alps. The system uses as input estimates of the mesoscale wind field as derived from real-time Doppler radar measurements and information on air mass stability from radio-soundings and ground stations. Both mesoscale flow and upstream air mass stability are predictors of the amounts and geographic distribution of heavy orographic precipitation, and can therefore be ex-ploited for nowcasting.
For a detailed description see:
Panziera L, Germann U. 2010. The relation between airflow and orographic precipitation on the south-ern side of the Alps as revealed by weather radar. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 136: 222–238. DOI:10.1002/qj.544
4.2.2.3Context and Scale Oriented Thunderstorm Satellite
Predictors Development
(project COALITION)
Through a 3-year fellowship funded by EUMETSAT MeteoSwiss is developping nowcasting applica-tions into an entity-oriented model, which merges severe convection predictors retrieved from different sources (MSG, Weather Radars and NWP) with evolving thunderstorm properties. The heuristic model will calculate probabilistic information about time, space and intensity evolution of severe convection for use by decision makers. Focus is given to severe storms over the European Alpine region. The project is progressing in coordination with EUMETSAT and is at prototyping stage.
4.2.2.4Improving Preparedness and Risk Management for Flash Floods and
Debris Flow Events (project IMPRINTS)
Over complex terrain such as the Alps current nowcasting systems based on Lagrangian persistence of radar precipitation fields fail to produce useful forecasts, because the orography interferes with the evolution of precipitation, in particular by means of blocking and enhancement. As part of the FP7 research project IMPRINTS, which started in January 2009, MeteoSwiss investigates orographic forc-ing of precipitation and incorporate the findings into current Lagrangian persistence nowcasting sys-tems. If successful, the resulting radar nowcasting system will be implemented in the Swiss radar data processing chain and will be extended by ensemble techniques and an algorithm for blending radar nowcasts with NWP model output
4.2.3 Models for Very Short-range Forecasting Systems
4.2.3.1Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis (INCA)
The nowcasting analysis and forecasting system INCA, developed by the Austrian NWS ZAMG is currently deployed at MeteoSwiss and will be introduced operationally later. This novel approach pro-duces high time and space meteorological fields (gridded values) for several parameters, incorporat-ing available information like numerical model fields and all kind of observation (both ground and re-mote), as well as high resolution orography.
4.3 Specialized numerical predictions
AUTHOR: BERND KONANTZ (pollution transport), BU (UV)
Since the beginning of the nineties, a comprehensive array of trajectory and dispersion models is operated by MeteoSwiss in Zurich. In case of environmental emergencies, a 24/7 service is provided for the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) including information on fallout, pollutant trajectories an additional weather forecasts.
The TRAJEK (trajectory) and LPDM (Lagrange Particle Dispersion) model can be run with COSMO-2 and COSMO-7 data. The model outputs are delivered at different resolution scales from swiss domain up to alpine and COSMO-7 (covering almost Europe) domain. MeteoSwiss is able to compute trajectory and dispersion forecasts every three hours using the high resolution model COSMO-2. Along with the local area models TRAJEK and LPDM global trajectory and dispersion models (e. g. FLEXPART) are considered.
Activities in 2010:
- MeteoSwiss has participated in a ENSEMBLE exercise using the global FLEXPART model.
- New isotopes (e. g. Ba-140, Ru-103) were implemented in LPDM and in FLEXPART. Additionally, the simulation duration of LPDM and TRAJEK was extended up to 48 hours (03 UTC COSMO-2 model run). FLEXPART is now able to handle forecast data up to 135 hours.
- In 2011 LPDM and TRAJEK will be detached with FLEXPART and LAGRANTO (lagrangian trajectory tool). Therefore the introduction of a digital input file has been postponed to 2011.
4.3.1 Assimilation of specific data, analysis and initialization (where applicable)
4.3.1.1 In operation
UV forecasts for a variety of regions and altitudes are produced by extracting the ozone forecast from the ECMWF global model and the cloudiness estimation from a local model (COSMO 7).
4.4 Extended range forecasts (10 days to 30 days) (Models, Ensemble, Methodology and Products)
AUTHOR: ANDREAS WEIGEL
4.4.1 In operation
Within the framework of the national NCCR climate research programme, MeteoSwiss established a quasi-operational monthly forecasting system over the past years. This is based on forecast data from the ECMWF monthly prediction system VarEPS. The system was deployed in autumn 2008 and has since become fully operational. Calibration and visualization techniques are applied in a similar way as in the long range seasonal forecasts described below (Section 4.5).
4.4.2 Research performed in this field
In a joint research project with the agricultural research institute Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon, monthly forecasts have been coupled with a soil model to generate probabilistic forecasts of soil moisture. Positive skill in the soil moisture forecasts has been found for lead-times up to a month. The results have been published in Calanca et al. (2010).
4.4.3 Operationally available EPS products
Operational products based on ECMWF VarEPS include maps of weekly categorical probability forecasts of surface temperature, precipitation and geopotential height over various regions as well as tercile data as tables for selected station locations and regional averages. These products are provided to customers of MeteoSwiss.
Additionally, since Summer 2010, probabilistic forecasts of average temperature and precipitation tendencies of forecast days 12-18 (examples below) are provided weekly (on Fridays) to the public in the form of a “weekly climate outlook” on the internet.
Tercile probabilities of weekly mean temperature (left) and weekly precipitation sum (right) for forecast days 12-18, as provided for the public every Friday.
4.5 Long range forecasts (30 days up to two years) (Models, Ensembles, Methodology and Products)
4.5.1 In operation
MeteoSwiss issues long range forecasts (up to 7 months) on the basis of the ECMWF seasonal forecast model “System 3”. The model data are post-processed, evaluated and disseminated by Meteo-Swiss. The post-processing includes a climate-conserving recalibration technique (CCR), which has been developed by MeteoSwiss within the framework of the national NCCR climate research programme (Weigel et al. 2009).
4.5.2 Research performed in this field
In previous studies, MeteoSwiss researchers have shown that the skill of seasonal forecasts can be enhanced by combining the output of several independent models, and that further improvement is possible if the models are weighted according to their skill. However, in a recent study, MeteoSwiss has demonstrated that model weighting is only appropriate if enough hindcast data are available to find optimum weights (> 20 yr). If the weights are not robust, more skill would be lost than could potentially be gained by optimum weighting. Under such conditions, equal weighting appears to be the better strategy (Weigel et al. 2010).
Since 2010, MeteoSwiss also carries out research in the field of decadal forecasts (forecasts of 1 to 10 years).This time-scale is of particular socioeconomic interest since it represents the planning horizon for many economic and political decisions. Recent developments in model technology indicate that decadal forecasting may now start to become feasible to some degree. To shed more light on this upcoming research field, MeteoSwiss is analyzing the potential of decadal forecasts for Europe and particularly Switzerland. The required data stem from the EU FP6 ENSEMBLES project, where five decadal prediction systems have been applied to calculate decadal hindcast data back to 1960.
4.5.3 Operationally available products
The operational products of seasonal forecasts (up to 7 months) include climagrams, probability charts and tercile data for surface temperature, precipitation and geopotential height, which are available for customers. For the wider public, probabilistic seasonal forecast information is issued in form of a quarterly climate outlook bulletin for Switzerland.
5 Verification of prognostic products
AUTHOR: LUDWIG ZGRAGGEN
5.1 Annual verification summary
MeteoSwiss Verification Report for the Short and Medium Range Weather Forecast in 2010
Since more than 25 years MeteoSwiss operationally verifies its weather forecasts for the short and medium range period. To do so, two different verification schemes are in use. Concerning the short range period we use the “objective forecast control” Objektive Prognosekontrolle (OPKO). In there, Switzerland is divided into 14 forecast regions. Further has to be mentioned, that this verification control is made three times a day. The investigated parameters are minimum and maximum temperature, 10-minutes wind, precipitation and the relative sunshine duration. To assess the forecasts, they are compared with the values from the automatic weather stations of MeteoSwiss. In order to get a feeling about the value of such a forecast, the verification results are compared with the persistency.
For the medium range forecast the so called “control for medium range forecast” Kontrolle Mittelfristprognose (KOMIFRI)-scheme is used. In it the whole of Switzerland is divided in 3 regions: Western, Eastern and Southern part. Due to the fact, that forecasts are made up to day 5, the same has been done with the verification. Analogously to the short term verification, persistency is used too as the reference value.
With this two verification schemes the different weather forecasts of MeteoSwiss has been also assessed in 2010. It could be shown that the quality of the forecasts was good. More precisely, in the short term forecasts we reached an overall value for the whole country of 86 % (85 % in 2009). The persistency was in the same period 66 % (67% in 2009). To give an impression of the best and worst forecasted regions, “Mittelland/Innerschweiz/östliche Voralpen” with 87 % and “Engadin” with 83 % have to be mentioned.
For an overview see figure 1 below:
Figure 1: Annual development of MeteoSwiss OPKO-Verification results
In the medium range we could reach a value of 75.0 % for eastern Switzerland (as a medium value over day 2 up to day 5). Additionally should be mentioned, that this value could be reached in the absence of a high persistency value. It can be shown that since the early days of the use of KOMIFRI, the quality values could be increased by about 10 % (see figure 2). This progress can be set into relation to the progress of numerical models, where mainly the IFS-Model of the ECMWF has to be mentioned.
As a short outlook of future verification actvities at MeteoSwiss, a new verification scheme became operational at the end of 2010. This new system was tested and assessed for two years in parallel with the here presented scheme.
Figure 2: Evolution curve of the medium range weather forecasts quality of MeteoSwiss
6 Plans for the future (next 4 years)
6.1 Development of the GDPFS
AUTHOR: ESTELLE GRÜTER
6.1.1 Major changes in the operational DPFS which are expected in the next year
An intensive data exchange with other governmental platforms is further promoted. The data is mainly used for the prevention of natural hazards and warnings. The national meteorological, hydrological, avalanche and snow warning regions were accorded in 2010 and in 2011 the warning tools will be adapted and new versions released. In order to approve the official warning systems, the integration of meteorological data from representative places in each of these regions takes place and will show first results by the end of 2011.
A generic solution for the delivering of real-time DWH-Data to data marts will be implemented by the end of 2011.
Control data processing tools will be further developed and implemented as service oriented infrastructures. Data quality control and enhancement will be completed by spatial interpolation methods.
The storage and integration of grid point data and the linking of interpolation packages is operational and will be further developed. The DWH now provides an experimental analytical grid database as basis for climate analysis. This will be adapted to new upcoming use-cases. It is foreseen to link GIS and to integrate the GIS coordination of MeteoSwiss.
For better meeting the needs of climatologic research and homogenization of historical data, the systematic information system for historical metadata of stations will be implemented.
6.1.2 Major changes in the operational DPFS which are envisaged within the next 4 years
The processing system, having a data ware house structure (DWH) since 2002, shall be the basis for the national „Meteorological and Climate Data Warehouse“.
The integration of different measurement technologies and platforms is further envisaged, as well as the integration of measuring systems of public and private partners. Moreover, the further integration of measured data und metadata will be promoted.