Summary
The impact of initial data on cloud forecasts by the Florida State University Global Spectral Model (FSUGSM) has been investigated. This work has shown that improving the information content of the initial data by physical initialization has a very strong, positive impact on cloud forecasts. Model spin-up of clouds is considerably reduced. There is an overall better representation of high, middle, low, and total clouds over the tropics and there is a discernible improvement in the prediction of clouds. A strong correlation between cloud shortwave forcing and longwave forcing has been noted in model forecasts with the physically initialized data. This result compares very well with observations from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bengtsson, L., Kanamitsu, M., Källberg, P., Uppala, S., 1982: FGGE 4-dimensional data assimilation at ECMWF.Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,63, 29–43.
Businger, J. A., Wyngard, J. C., Izumi, Y., Bradley, E. F., 1971: Flux profile relationship in the atmospheric surface layer.J. Atmos. Sci.,28, 181–189.
Chang, C. B., 1979: On the influence of solar radiation on diurnal variation of surface temperatures on African disturbances. Rep. No. 79-3, Dept. of Meteor., The Florida State University, 157 pp.
Chou, M. D., 1984: Broadband water vapor transmission functions for atmospheric IR flux computations.J. Atmos. Sci.,41, 1775–1778.
Chou, M. D., Peng, L., 1983: A parameterization of the absorption in the 15 μm CO2 spectral region with application to climate sensitivity studies.J. Atmos. Sci.,40, 2183–2192.
Davies, R., 1982: Documentation of the Solar Radiation Parameterization in the GLAS Climate Model. NASA Tech. Memo. 83961. Goddard Space Flight Cent., Greenbelt, Maryland.
Gruber, A., Krueger, A. F., 1984: The status of the NOAA outgoing longwave radiation data set.Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,65, 958–962.
Harshvardhan, Corsetti, T. G.: 1984: “Longwave Parameterization for the UCLA/GLAS GCM”. NASA Tech. Memo. 86072. Goddard Space Flight Cent, Greenbelt, Maryland.
Harshvardhan, Davies, R., Randall, D. A., Corsetti, T. G., 1987: A fast radiation parameterization for atmospheric circulation models.J. Geophys. Res.,92, 1009–1016.
Joseph, J. H., Wiscombe, W. J., Weinman, J. A., 1976: The delta-Eddington approximation of radiative flux transfer.J. Atmos. Sci.,33, 2452–2459.
Kanamitsu, M., 1975: On numerical prediction over a global tropical belt. Report No 75-1, Dept. of Meteorology, Florida State University, Tallahassee Florida 32306, pp. 1–282.
Kanamitsu, M., Tada, K., Kudo, K., Sato, N., Isa, S., 1983: Description of the JMA operational spectral model.J. Meteor. Soc. Japan 61, 812–828.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Low-Nam, S., Pasch, R., 1983: Cumulus parameterization and rainfall rates II.Mon. Wea. Rev.,111, 816–828.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Ingles, K., Cocke, S., Pasch, R., Kitade, T., 1984: Details of low latitude medium range numerical weather prediction using a global spectral model II. Effect of orography and physical initialization.J. Meteor. Soc. Japan. 62, 613–649.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Bedi, H. S., Heckley, W., Ingles, K., 1988a: Reduction of the spinup time for evaporation and precipitation in a spectral model.Mon. Wea. Rev. 116, 907–920.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Bedi, H. S., Ingles, K., Weiner, A. Kuma, K., Campana, K. A., Kimoto, M., 1988b: Comparison of cloud cover from global models and ISCCP data sets. Report prepared for the fourth session of the CAS/JSC-WGNE, Toront, 16–30, September, 1988.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Kumar, A., Yap, K. S., Dastoor, A. P., Davidson, N., Sheng, J., 1990: Performance of a highresolution mesoscale tropical prediction model.Adv. Geophys.,32, 133–286.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Xue, J., Bedt, H. S., Ingles, K., Oosterhof, D., 1991: Physical initialization for numerical weather prediction over the tropics.Tellus,43AB, 53–81.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Bedi, H. S., Ingles, K., 1993: Physical initialization using SSM/I rain rates.Tellus,45A, 247–269.
Krishnamurti, T. N., Rohaly, G., Bedi, H. S., 1994: On the improvement of precipitation forecast skill from physical initialization.Tellus (in press).
Kuo, H. L., 1974: Further studies of the parameterization of the influence of cumulus convection on large scale flow.J. Atmos. Sci.,31, 1232–1240.
Kuo, H. L., 1965: On formation and intensification of tropical cyclones through latent heat release by cumulus convection.J. Atmos. Sci.,22, 40–63.
Lacis, A. A., Hansen, J. E., 1974: A parameterization for the absorption of solar radiation in the Earth's atmosphere.J. Atmos. Sci.,31, 118–133.
Lee, H.-S., 1994: Impact of physical initialization on cloud forecasts. Master's thesis. Dept. of Meteorology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, pp. 1–105.
Louis, J. F., 1979: A parametric model of vertical eddy fluxes in the atmosphere.Bound.-Layer. Meteor.,17, 187–202.
Mathur, M. B., Bedi, H. S., Krishnamurti, T. N., Kanamitsu, M., Wollen, J. S., 1992: Use of satellite-derived rainfall for improving tropical forecasts.Mon. Wea. Rev.,120, 2540–2560.
Ogura, Y., Cho, H., 1973: Diagnostic determination of cumulus cloud populations from observed large-scale variables.J. Atmos. Sci.,30, 1276–1286.
Ramanathan, V., Collins, W., 1991: Thermodynamic regulation of ocean warming by cirrus clouds deduced from observations of the 1987 El Niño.Nature,351, 27–32.
Rodgers, C. D., 1968: Some extensions and applications of the new random model for molecular band transmission.Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Sci. 94, 99–102.
Sagan, C., Pollack, J. B., 1967: Anisotropic nonconservative scattering and the clouds of Venus.J. Geogr. Res.,172, 469–477.
Slingo, J. M., 1987: The development and verification of a cloud prediction scheme for the ECMWF model.Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,113, 899–927.
Stephens, G. L., 1984: The parameterization of radiation for numerical weather prediction and climate models.Mon. Wea. Rev.,112, 826–867.
Tiedtke, M., 1984: The sensitivity of the time-mean large-scale flow to comulus convection in the ECMWF model. Workshop on convection in large-scale numerical models. ECMWF, 28 Nov.-1 Dec. 1983, 297–316.
Tiedtke, M., 1993: Representation of clouds in large-scale models.Mon. Wea. Rev.,121, 3040–3061.
Wallace, J. M., Tibaldi, S., Simmons, A. J., 1983: Reduction of systematic forecast errors in the ECMWF model through the introduction of envelope orography.Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,109, 683–718.
Warren, S. G., Hahn, C. J., London, J., Chervin, R. M., Jenne, R. L., 1986: Global distribution of total cloud cover and cloud type amounts over land. NCAR Technical Note TN-273+STR, National Center for Atmosphere Research, Boulder, CO, 29 p.-200 plates.
Yanai, M., Esbensen, S., Chu, J. H., 1973: Determination of bulk properties of tropical cloud clusters from large-scale heat and moisture budgets.J. Atmos. Sci.,30, 611–627.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 10 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, H.S., Krishnamurti, T.N. Impact of physical initialization on cloud forecasts. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 56, 261–273 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01030140
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01030140