Ensemble forecasts of a flood-producing storm: comparison of the influence of model-state perturbations and parameter modifications

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Leoncini, G., Plant, R. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8808-0022, Gray, S. L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8658-362X and Clark, P. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1001-9226 (2013) Ensemble forecasts of a flood-producing storm: comparison of the influence of model-state perturbations and parameter modifications. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 139 (670). pp. 198-211. ISSN 1477-870X

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To link to this item DOI: 10.1002/qj.1951

Abstract/Summary

High-resolution ensemble simulations (Δx = 1 km) are performed with the Met Office Unified Model for the Boscastle (Cornwall, UK) flash-flooding event of 16 August 2004. Forecast uncertainties arising from imperfections in the forecast model are analysed by comparing the simulation results produced by two types of perturbation strategy. Motivated by the meteorology of the event, one type of perturbation alters relevant physics choices or parameter settings in the model's parametrization schemes. The other type of perturbation is designed to account for representativity error in the boundary-layer parametrization. It makes direct changes to the model state and provides a lower bound against which to judge the spread produced by other uncertainties. The Boscastle has genuine skill at scales of approximately 60 km and an ensemble spread which can be estimated to within ∼ 10% with only eight members. Differences between the model-state perturbation and physics modification strategies are discussed, the former being more important for triggering and the latter for subsequent cell development, including the average internal structure of convective cells. Despite such differences, the spread in rainfall evaluated at skilful scales is shown to be only weakly sensitive to the perturbation strategy. This suggests that relatively simple strategies for treating model uncertainty may be sufficient for practical, convective-scale ensemble forecasting.

Item Type:	Article
Refereed:	Yes
Divisions:	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
ID Code:	28414
Uncontrolled Keywords:	* convective-scale ensemble forecasting; * parameter perturbations; * model-state perturbations; * flood; * Unified Model
Publisher:	Royal Meteorological Society

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Ensemble forecasts of a flood-producing storm: comparison of the influence of model-state perturbations and parameter modifications

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