Identification

Title

A multiscale four-dimensional variational data Assimilation scheme: A squall-line case study

Abstract

This study presents a multiscale four-dimensional variational data assimilation (MS-4DVar) scheme that aims to assimilate multiscale information from conventional and radar observations. The MS-4DVar scheme separately as-similates conventional and radar data in different outer loop iterations of an incremental 4DVar with varied resolutions in the tangent linear and adjoint models (TLM/ADM) and time window lengths in the 4DVar. The MS-4DVar scheme was evaluated through a series of single observation tests and several cycled assimilation and forecasting experiments for a real squall-line case. Our results indicated that different TLM/ADM resolutions and time window lengths applied to the con-ventional and radar observations improved the multiscale analysis. In addition, the MS-4DVar scheme was more efficient than the common 4DVar because of the low-resolution TLM/ADM used for conventional data and the shortened time window length for radar data. Verification of the squall-line forecasts suggested that the MS-4DVar scheme improved the hourly accumulated precipitation and radar reflectivity forecast skills and reduced the forecast errors of both large-scale environmental and convective-scale states. Further diagnosis revealed that the improvement of precipitation forecast skill was attributable to the stronger cold pool, deeper saturated water vapor layer, and stronger updraft of the simulated squall-line system, as well as a more favorable convective environment.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7fj2mtn

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2023-08-01T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Copyright 2023 American Meteorological Society (AMS).

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2025-07-11T15:15:57.065534

Metadata language

eng; USA