Skip to main content
Log in

High-resolution summer rainfall prediction in the JHWC real-time WRF system

  • Published:
Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The WRF-based real-time forecast system (http://jhwc.snu.ac.kr/weather) of the Joint Center for High-impact Weather and Climate Research (JHWC) has been in operation since November 2006; this system has three nested model domains using GFS (Global Forecast System) data for its initial and boundary conditions. In this study, we evaluate the improvement in daily and hourly weather prediction, particularly the prediction of summer rainfall over the Korean Peninsula, in the JHWC WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model system by 3DVAR (three-Dimensional Variational) data assimilation using the data obtained from KEOP (Korea Enhanced Observation Program). KEOP was conducted during the period June 15 to July 15, 2007, and the data obtained included GTS (Global Telecommunication System) upper-air sounding, AWS (Automatic Weather System), wind profiler, and radar observation data. Rainfall prediction and its characteristics should be verified by using the precipitation observation and the difference field of each experiment. High-resolution (3 km in domain 3) summer rainfall prediction over the Korean peninsula is substantially influenced by improved synoptic-scale prediction in domains 1 (27 km) and 2 (9 km), in particular by data assimilation using the sounding and wind profiler data. The rainfall prediction in domain 3 was further improved by radar and AWS data assimilation in domain 3. The equitable threat score and bias score of the rainfall predicted in domain 3 indicated improvement for the threshold values of 0.1, 1, and 2.5 mm with data assimilation. For cases of occurrence of heavy rainfall (7 days), the equitable threat score and bias score improved considerably at all threshold values as compared to the entire period of KEOP. Radar and AWS data assimilation improved the temporal and spatial distributions of diurnal rainfall over southern Korea, and AWS data assimilation increased the predicted rainfall amount by approximately 0.3 mm 3hr−1.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anthes, R. A., Y.-H. Kuo, D. P. Baumhefner, R. M. Erico, and T.W. Bettge, 1985: Predictability of mesoscale atmospheric motions. Adv. Geophys., 28B, 159–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barker, D. M., W. Huang, Y.-R. Guo, and A. Bourgeois, 2003: A three dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system for use with MM5. NCAR Tech. Note NCAR/TN-453STR, 68 pp.

  • _____, ______, ______, ______, and Q. Xiao, 2004: A three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system for MM5: Implementation and initial results. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 897–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, S. G., and Coauthors, 2004a: An hourly assimilation/forecast cycle: The RUC. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 495–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • _____, G. A. Grell, J. M. Brown, and T. G. Smirnova 2004b: Mesoscale weather prediction with the RUC hybrid isentropic-terrain-following coordinate model. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 473–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caya, A., J. Sun. and C. Snyder, 2005: A comparison between the 4D-Var and the ensemble Kalman filter techniques for radar data assimilation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 133, 3081–3094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S., J. E. Nachamkin, J. M. Schmidt, and C.-S. Liou, 2002: Quantitative precipitation forecast for the coupled ocean/atmosphere mesoscale prediction system (COAMPS). 19th Conf. on Weather Analysis and Forecasting/15 th Conf. on Numerical Weather Prediction, San Antonio, TX, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 7B.1. [Available online at http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/47727.pdf.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Chien, F.-C., Y. H. Kuo, and M.-J. Yang, 2002: Precipitation forecast of MM5 in the Taiwan area during the 1998 Mei-yu season. Wea. Forecasting, 17, 739–754.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A. J., W. A. Gallus, and T. C. Chen, 2007: Comparison of the diurnal precipitation cycle in convective resolving and non-convectionresolving mesoscale models. Mon. Wea. Rev., 35, 3456–3473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colle, B., J. B. Olson, and J. S. Tongue, 2003a: Multiseason verification of the MM5. Part I: Comparison with the Eta model over the central and eastern United States and impact of MM5 resolution. Wea. Forecasting, 18, 431–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • _____, ______, and ______, 2003b: Multiseason verification of the MM5. Part II: Evaluation of high-resolution precipitation forecasts over the northeastern United States. Wea. Forecasting, 18, 458–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, C. A., K. W. Manning, R. E. Carbone, S. B. Trier, and J. D. Tuttle, 2003: Coherence of warm-season continental rainfall in numerical weather prediction models. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 2667–2679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grell, G. A., J. Dudhia, and D. R. Stauffer, 1994: A description of the fifth-generation Penn State-NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5). NCAR Tech. Note NCAR/TN-398+STR, 122 pp.

  • Guo, Y.-R., J. Sun, E. Lim, X.-Y. Huang, X. Zhang, and S. Sugimoto, 2008: Assimilation of Doppler radar data with WRF 4DVAR for a convective case. 9th WRF Users’ Workshop, Boulder, Colorado. [Available online at http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf-/users/workshops/WS2008/-abstracts/P5-06.pdf.]

  • Huang, X.-Y., and Coauthors, 2009a: Four-dimensional variational data assimilation for WRF: Formulation and preliminary results. Mon. Wea. Rev., 137, 299–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jollie, I. T. and D. B. Stephenson, 2003: Forecast Verification: A Practitioner’s Guide in Atmospheric Science. Wiley and Sons Ltd., 254 pp.

  • Joly, A., and Coauthors, 1999: Overview of the field phase of the Front and Atlantic Storm-Track Experiment (FASTEX) project. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 125, 3131–3163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung, J.-H., and M.-S. Suh, 2005: Characteristics and types of the diurnal variation of hourly precipitation during rainy season over South Korea. J. Korean Meteor. Soc., 41, 533–546. (in Korean with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H.-H., and S.-K. Park, 2008: Current Status of Intensive Observing Period and Development Direction. Atmosphere, 18, 147–158. (in Korean with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim. H.-W., and D.-K. Lee, 2006: An Observational Study of Mesoscale Convective Systems with Heavy Rainfall over the Korean Peninsula. Wea. Forecasting, 21, 125–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuo, Y.-H., and G. T.-J. Chen, 1990: The Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiments: An overview. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 71, 488–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langland, R. H., and Coauthors, 1999: The North Pacific Experiment (NORPEX-98): Targeted observations for improved North American weather forecasts. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 80, 1364–1384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D.-K., S.-Y. Hong, and S.-O. Hwang. 1991: Evolution of mesoscale feature associated with two extremely heavy rainfall events occurred over the Korean Peninsula. Proc. Int. Conf. on Mesoscale Meteorology and TAMEX, Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan Meteor. Soc. and Amer. meteor. Soc., 284–288.

  • _____, H.-R. Kim, and S.-Y. Hong, 1998: Heavy rainfall over Korea during 1980–1990. Korean J. Atmos. Sci., 1, 523–547. (in Korean with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • _____, J.-W. Kim, D.-Y. Eom, S.-J. Choi, and J.-H. Ha, 2008a: WRF Real-Time Operation at JHWC-GPP. 2nd East Asia WRF Workshop and Tutorial, Seoul, Korea. [Available online at http://jhwc.snu.ac.kr/wrf2008/workshop_ppt/2-1.pdf.]

  • _____, J.-G. Park, and J.-W. Kim, 2008b: Heavy Rainfall Events Lasting 18 Days from July 31 to August 17, 1998, over Korea. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 86, 313–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • _____, J.-W. Kim, D.-Y. Eom, S.-J. Choi, and J.-H. Ha, 2009: Data assimilation of the JHWC real-time WRF system. 3rd East Asia WRF Workshop and Tutorial, Seoul, Korea. [Available online at http://jhwc.snu.ac.kr/wrf2009/presentation/1/1-5.ppt]

  • Lee, W.-C., and Ben J.-D. Jou, 2008: An overview of SoWMEX/TiMREX operation. 1st SoWMEX/TiMREX Science Workshop, Taipei, Taiwan. [Available online at http://sowmex.cwb.gov.tw/2008/showppt.php?SessW=17_DongKyouLee&-pptDate=20081106.]

  • Lim, G.-H., and H.-J. Kwon, 1998: Diurnal variation of precipitation over South Korea and its implication. J. Korean Meteor. Soc., 34, 222–237. (in Korean with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Misumi, Y., 1999: Diurnal variations of precipitation grouped into cloud categories around Japanese archipelago in the warm season. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 77, 615–635.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ninomiya, K., and C. Kobayashi, 1998: Precipitation and moisture balance of the Asian summer monsoon in 1991. Part I: Precipitation and major circulation systems. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 76, 855–877.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, S.-G., and D.-K. Lee, 2009: Retrieval of high-resolution wind fields over southern Korean Peninsula using doppler weather radar network. Wea. Forecasting, 24, 87–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skamarock, W. C., J.B. Klemp, J. Dudhia, D. O. Gill, D. M. Barker, W. Wang, and J. G. Powers, 2005: A description of the Advanced Research WRF Version 2. NCAR Tech. Note 468STR, 88 pp.

  • Sun, J., and T.-Y. Lee, 2002: A numerical study of an intense quasistationary convection band over the Korean Peninsula. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 80, 1221–1245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warner, T. T., R. A. Peterson, and R. E. Treadon, 1997: A tutorial on lateral boundary conditions as a basic and potentially serious limitation to regional numerical weather prediction. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78, 2599–2617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weckwerth, T. M., D. B. Parsons, S. E. Koch, J. A. Moore, M. A. Lemone, B. B. Demoz, C. Flamant, B. Geerts, J. Wang, and W. F. Feltz, 2004: An overview of the international H2o project (IHOP_2002) and some preliminary highlights. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 85, 253–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisman, M. L., and R. J. Trapp, 2003: Lowlevel mesovortices within squall-lines and bow echoes: Part I. Overview and dependence on environmental shear. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 2779–2803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dong-Kyou Lee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, DK., Eom, DY., Kim, JW. et al. High-resolution summer rainfall prediction in the JHWC real-time WRF system. Asia-Pacific J Atmos Sci 46, 341–353 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-010-1003-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-010-1003-2

Key words

Navigation