Identification

Title

Advancing tropical cyclone precipitation forecast verification methods and tools

Abstract

Tropical cyclone (TC) forecast verification techniques have traditionally focused on track and intensity, as these are some of the most important characteristics of TCs and are often the principal verification concerns of operational forecast centers. However, there is a growing need to verify other aspects of TCs as process-based validation techniques may be increasingly necessary for further track and intensity forecast improvements as well as improving communication of the broad impacts of TCs including inland flooding from precipitation. Here we present a set of TC-focused verification methods available via the Model Evaluation Tools (MET) ranging from traditional approaches to the application of stormcentric coordinates and the use of feature-based verification of spatially defined TC objects. Storm-relative verification using observed and forecast tracks can be useful for identifying model biases in precipitation accumulation in relation to the storm center. Using a storm-centric cylindrical coordinate system based on the radius of maximum wind adds additional storm-relative capabilities to regrid precipitation fields onto cylindrical or polar coordinates. This powerful process-based model diagnostic and verification technique provides a framework for improved understanding of feedbacks between forecast tracks, intensity, and precipitation distributions. Finally, object-based verification including land masking capabilities provides even more nuanced verification options. Precipitation objects of interest, either the central core of TCs or extended areas of rainfall after landfall, can be identified, matched to observations, and quickly aggregated to build meaningful spatial and summary verification statistics.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7bp06tc

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

2023-09-01T00:00:00Z

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

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