Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Limited area NWP and regional climate modeling: a test of the relaxation vs Eta lateral boundary conditions

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With very few exceptions, just about all limited area models (LAMs) used in operational NWP and regional climate modeling use the Davies (Q J R Meteorol Soc 102:405–418, 1976) relaxation lateral boundary conditions (LBCs), even though they make no effort to respect the basic mathematics of the problem. While in the early stages of the primitive equation LAM development in the seventies numerous schemes have been proposed and tested, LAM communities have eventually for the most part settled on the relaxation LBCs with few questions asked. An exception is the Eta model used extensively at NCEP and several other centers, in which the Mesinger (Contrib Atmos Phys 50:200–210, 1977) LBCs are used, designed and based on knowledge available before the introduction of the relaxation scheme. They prescribe variables along the outermost row of grid points only; all of them at the inflow points and one less at the outflow points where the tangential velocity components are extrapolated from inside of the model domain. Additional schemes are in place to suppress separation of gravity-wave solutions on C-subgrids of the model’s E-grid. A recent paper of Veljovic et al. (Meteor Zeitschrift 19:237–246, 2010) included three 32-day forecasts done with both the Eta and the relaxation LBCs and the comparison of some of their verification results. Here we extend this experiment by three additional forecasts to arrive at an ensemble of six members run with both schemes, and present a more complete discussion of results. We in addition show results of one of these forecasts in which the linear change of relaxation coefficients was replaced by the change following the recommendation of Lehmann (Meteorol Atmos Phys 52:1–14, 1993). We feel that the results of our two verification schemes strongly suggest the advantage of the Eta over the conventional relaxation scheme, thereby raising doubts as to the justification for its use.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brill KF (2009) A general analytic method for assessing sensitivity to bias of performance measures for dichotomous forecasts. Weather Forecast 24:307–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brill KF, Mesinger F (2009) Applying a general analytic method for assessing bias sensitivity to bias adjusted threat and equitable threat scores. Weather Forecast 24:1748–1754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charney J (1962) Integration of the primitive and balance equations. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on numerical weather prediction, Tokyo. Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo, pp 131–152

  • Charney JG, Fjørtoft R, von Neumann J (1950) Numerical integration of the barotropic vorticity equation. Tellus 2:237–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen JH, Miyakoda K (1974) A nested grid computation for the barotropic free surface atmosphere. Mon Weather Rev 102:181–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies HC (1976) A lateral boundary formulation for multi-level prediction models. Q J R Meteorol Soc 102:405–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies HC (1983) Limitations of some common lateral boundary condition schemes used in regional NWP models. Mon Weather Rev 111:1002–1012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durran DD (1999) Numerical methods for wave equations in geophysical fluid dynamics. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Elvius T (1977) Experiments with a primitive equations model for limited area forecasts. Contrib Atmos Phys 50:367–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Elvius T, Sundström A (1973) Computationally efficient schemes and boundary conditions in a fine-mesh barotropic model based on the shallow-water equations. Tellus 25:132–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feser F, Rockel B, von Storch H, Winterfeldt J, Zahn M (2011) Regional climate models add value to global model data: a review and selected examples. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 92(9):1181–1192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi F (2006) Regional climate modeling: status and perspectives. J Phys IV France, 139:101–118. doi:10.1051/jp4:2006139008 (http://jp4.journaldephysique.org/)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamill TM (1999) Hypothesis tests for evaluating numerical precipitation forecasts. Weather Forecast 14:155–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamill TM, Juras J (2006) Measuring forecast skill: is it real skill or is it the varying climatology? Q J R Meteorol Soc 132:2905–2923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hogan RJ, Christopher ATF, Jolliffe IT, Stephenson DB (2010) Equitability revisited: why the “Equitable Threat Score” is not equitable. Weather Forecast 25:710–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones RG, Murphy JM, Noguer M (1995) Simulation of climate change over Europe using a nested regional climate model. I: assessment of control climate, including sensitivity to location of lateral boundaries. Q J R Meteorol Soc 121:1413–1449

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalnay E (2002) Atmospheric modeling, data assimilation and predictability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kar SK, Turco RP (1995) Formulation of a lateral sponge layer for limited-area shallow-water models and an extension for the vertically stratified case. Mon Weather Rev 123:1542–1559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laprise R, de Elía R, Caya D, Biner S, Lucas-Picher P, Diaconescu E, Leduc M, Alexandru A, Separovic L (2008) Challenging some tenets of regional climate modelling. Meteorol Atmos Phys 100:3–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann R (1993) On the choice of relaxation coefficients for Davies’ lateral boundary scheme for regional weather prediction models. Meteorol Atmos Phys 52:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald A (1997) Lateral boundary conditions for operational regional forecast models; a review. HIRLAM Technical Report 32. Irish Meteorological Service, Dublin, p 32

  • McDonald A (2003) Transparent boundary conditions for the shallow-water equations: testing in a nested environment. Mon Weather Rev 131(4):698–705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesinger F (1973) A method for construction of second-order accuracy difference schemes permitting no false two-grid-interval wave in the height field. Tellus 25:444–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesinger F (1974) An economical explicit scheme which inherently prevents the false two-grid-interval wave in the forecast fields. In: Proceedings of the symposium on difference and spectral methods for atmosphere and ocean dynamics problems. Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 17–22 September 1973; Part II, pp 18–34

  • Mesinger F (1977) Forward-backward scheme, and its use in a limited area model. Contrib Atmos Phys 50:200–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesinger F (2008) Bias adjusted precipitation threat scores. Adv Geosci 16:137–143 (http://www.adv-geosci.net/16/index.html)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesinger F, Janjic ZI (1974) Noise due to time-dependent boundary conditions in limited area models. The GARP Programme on Numerical Experimentation, Rep 4. WMO, Geneva, pp 31–32

  • Mesinger F, Popovic J (2010) Forward–backward scheme on the B/E grid modified to suppress lattice separation: the two versions, and any impact of the choice made? Meteorol Atmos Phys 108:1–8. doi:10.1007/s00703-010-0080-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesinger F, DiMego G, Kalnay E, Mitchell K, Shafran PC, Ebisuzaki W, Jovic D, Woollen J, Rogers E, Berbery EH, Ek MB, Fan Y, Grumbine R, Higgins W, Li H, Lin Y, Manikin G, Parrish D, Shi W (2006) North American regional reanalysis. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 87(3):343–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesinger F, Chou SC, Gomes JL, Jovic D, Bastos P, J. Bustamante JF, Lazic L, Lyra AA, Morelli S, Ristic I, Veljovic K (2012) An upgraded version of the Eta model. Meteorol Atmos Phys 116:63–79 (http://www.springerlink.com/content/0177-7971/116/3-4/)

  • Oddo P, Pinardi N (2008) Lateral open boundary conditions for nested limited area models: a scale selective approach. Ocean Model 20:134–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliger J, Sundström A (1978) Theoretical and practical aspects of some initial boundary value problems in fluid dynamics. SIAM J Appl Math 35:419–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips NA, Shukla J (1973) On the strategy of combining coarse and fine grid meshes in numerical weather prediction. J Appl Meteorol 12:763–770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rummukainen M (2010) State-of-the-art with regional climate models. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Chang 1(1):82–96. doi:10.1002/wcc.008

  • Russell GL (2007) Step-mountain technique applied to an atmospheric C-grid model, or how to improve precipitation near mountains. Mon Weather Rev 135(12):4060–4076

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sundström A (1973) Theoretical and practical problems in formulating boundary conditions for a limited area model. Rep DM-9. Institute of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm

  • Vannitsem S, Chomé F (2005) One-way nested regional climate simulations and domain size. J Clim 18:229–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veljovic K, Rajkovic B, Fennessy MJ, Altshuler EL, Mesinger F (2010) Regional climate modeling: should one attempt improving on the large scales? Lateral boundary condition scheme: any impact? Meteor Zeitschrift 19:237–246. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2010/0460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitart F, Buizza R, Balmaseda MA, Balsamo G, Bidlot J-R, Bonet A, Fuentes M, Hofstadler A, Molteni F, Palmer TN (2008) The new VarEPS-monthly forecasting system: a first step towards seamless prediction. Q J R Meteorol Soc 134:1789–1799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Storch H (2005) Conceptual basis and applications of regional climate modeling. In: Bärring L, Laprise R (eds) Extended abstracts of a WMO/WCRP-sponsored regional-scale climate modelling workshop high-resolution climate modelling: assessment, added value and applications. Lund, Sweden, 29 March–2 April 2004. Lund eRep Phys Geogr No. 5, Department of Physical Geography & Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sweden, ISSN:1402–9006

  • von Storch H, Langenberg H, Feser F (2000) A spectral nudging technique for dynamical downscaling purposes. Mon Weather Rev 128(10):3664–3673

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, under Grant No. 176013; and by the project F-147 of the Scientific Research Fund of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade, Serbia. We have benefitted from several comments of Professor René Laprise, of the University of Quebec at Montreal. Finally, comments of anonymous reviewers are much appreciated as they have considerably contributed to the present content as well as the quality of the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC), University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Fedor Mesinger

  2. Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade, Serbia

    Fedor Mesinger

  3. Institute of Meteorology, Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Katarina Veljovic

Authors
  1. Fedor Mesinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katarina Veljovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fedor Mesinger.

Additional information

Responsible editor: C. Simmer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mesinger, F., Veljovic, K. Limited area NWP and regional climate modeling: a test of the relaxation vs Eta lateral boundary conditions. Meteorol Atmos Phys 119, 1–16 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-012-0217-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-012-0217-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation