Search

The impact of near-surface observations on analysis and forecasting in complex terrain is studied by introducing the role of terrain in the background error horizontal correlation model. Observation information propagates isotropically on the model level in the height-based terrain-following coordinates since the background error horizontal correlation in CMA-MESO 3DVar system is characterized by an isotropic Gaussian correlation model. However, in the near-surface layer with complex topography, the propagation of observation information is blocked by mountain ranges, and thus its background error covariance is inhomogeneous and anisotropic, and furthermore, the propagation of observation information should vary with topography. The background error horizontal correlation coefficients in complex terrain are computed using NMC method by National Meteorological Center of the USA. Results show that the blocking of large terrain causes the background error horizontal correlation coefficients to decrease more rapidly across mountain ranges, where the near-surface wind field is more localized than the temperature and humidity fields, with smaller horizontal correlation characteristic length scales, and the wind field information propagates over a closer distance. Based on the actual statistical structure, a Gaussian correlation model that includes effects of terrain height and terrain gradient is constructed, and the newly constructed horizontal correlation model accurately characterizes the decrease after mountain ranges are blocked. In CMA-MESO 3DVar analysis, the impact of terrain on the propagation of observational information is effectively incorporated by including a terrain height error term in the background error level correlation model. Idealized experiments show that the horizontal correlation modeling scheme considering the terrain height error term allows the observation information to propagate in an anisotropic manner that varies with terrain height，and significantly reduces the influence of observation information across large terrain features, thereby achieving more reasonable analysis increments. Results of a forecast experiment for a heavy precipitation process in northern China indicate that the correlation modeling scheme varying with the terrain height propagates the anisotropy of the ground observation information and weakens the analytical increment near the ground with large terrain, and thus makes a slightly biased and positive contribution to the precipitation forecast neutrality. Results of a 5-day hourly cycle rapid updating analysis and forecast for precipitation processes in East China show that the horizontal correlation modeling scheme with terrain elevation makes a positive contribution to 10-m wind field at the ground level and the precipitation forecast within 24 hours.

Given that the Gaussianity of the observation error distribution is the fundamental principle of some data assimilation and machine learning algorithms, the error structure of radar reflectivity has become increasingly important with the development of high-resolution forecasts and nowcasts of convective systems. This study examines the error distribution of radar reflectivity and discusses what causes the non-Gaussian error distribution using 6-month observations minus backgrounds (OmBs) of composites of vertical maximum reflectivity (CVMRs) in mountainous and hilly areas. By following the symmetric error model in all-sky satellite radiance assimilation, we reveal the error structure of CVMRs as a function of symmetric rain rates, which is the average of the observed and simulated rain rates. Unlike satellite radiance, the error structure of CVMRs shows a sharper slope for light precipitation than for moderate precipitation. Thus, a three-piecewise fitting function is more suitable for CVMRs. The probability density functions of OmBs normalized by symmetric rain rates become more Gaussian than the probability density functions normalized by all samples. Moreover, the possibility of using a third-party predictor to construct the symmetric error model is also discussed in this study. The result shows that the Gaussian distribution of OmBs can be further improved via more accurate precipitation observations. According to the Jensen–Shannon divergence, a more linear predictor, the logarithmic transformation of the rain rate, can provide the most Gaussian error distribution in comparison with other predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Atmosphere -- Ocean (Taylor & Francis Ltd) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A new voltammetric sensor, simultaneous electropolymerization of L-Citrulline (L-Cit) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was built for the first time. It was used to construct this sensor for quantification of these important pesticides and sensitive determination of metribuzin. The proposed metribuzin sensor displays excellent performance with wide linear range (3.0 × 10−8 ~ 1.0 × 10−6 mol L−1), ultralow detection limit of 10 nM (S/N = 3), and favourable specificity. Also, the sensor was applied for determination of metribuzin in the real samples, the satisfying results are achieved. The results imply that the proposed sensor can be potentially used for the environmental pollution science and environmental analytical chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]