Four-dimensional variational data assimilation for a limited area model

A 4-dimensional variational data assimilation (4D-Var) scheme for the HIgh Resolution Limited Area Model (HIRLAM) forecasting system is described in this article. The innovative approaches to the multi-incremental formulation, the weak digital filter constraint and the semi-Lagrangian time integration are highlighted with some details. The implicit dynamical structure functions are discussed using single observation experiments, and the sensitivity to various parameters of the 4D-Var formulation is illustrated. To assess the meteorological impact of HIRLAM 4D-Var, data assimilation experiments for five periods of 1 month each were performed, using HIRLAM 3D-Var as a reference. It is shown that the HIRLAM 4D-Var consistently out-performs the HIRLAM 3D-Var, in particular for cases with strong mesoscale storm developments. The computational performance of the HIRLAM 4D-Var is also discussed.

To Access Resource:

Questions? Email Resource Support Contact:

  • opensky@ucar.edu
    UCAR/NCAR - Library

Resource Type publication
Temporal Range Begin N/A
Temporal Range End N/A
Temporal Resolution N/A
Bounding Box North Lat N/A
Bounding Box South Lat N/A
Bounding Box West Long N/A
Bounding Box East Long N/A
Spatial Representation N/A
Spatial Resolution N/A
Related Links N/A
Additional Information N/A
Resource Format PDF
Standardized Resource Format PDF
Asset Size N/A
Legal Constraints

Copyright 2012 Author(s). Published under license by Wiley-Blackwell.
Access Constraints None
Software Implementation Language N/A

Resource Support Name N/A
Resource Support Email opensky@ucar.edu
Resource Support Organization UCAR/NCAR - Library
Distributor N/A
Metadata Contact Name N/A
Metadata Contact Email opensky@ucar.edu
Metadata Contact Organization UCAR/NCAR - Library

Author Gustafsson, Nils
Huang, Xiang-yu
Yang, Xiaohua
Mogensen, Kristian
Lindskog, Magnus
Vignes, Ole
Wilhelmsson, Tomas
Thorsteinsson, Sigurdur
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2012-02-01T00:00:00
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Not Assigned
Alternate Identifier N/A
Resource Version N/A
Topic Category geoscientificInformation
Progress N/A
Metadata Date 2023-08-18T18:23:17.076261
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:11684
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Gustafsson, Nils, Huang, Xiang-yu, Yang, Xiaohua, Mogensen, Kristian, Lindskog, Magnus, Vignes, Ole, Wilhelmsson, Tomas, Thorsteinsson, Sigurdur. (2012). Four-dimensional variational data assimilation for a limited area model. UCAR/NCAR - Library. http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7gf0v43. Accessed 25 March 2025.

Harvest Source