ISSN 0386-4049
TECHNICAL REPORTS OF THE METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE No. 62

WWRP Beijing Olympics 2008 Forecast Demonstration/
Research and Development Project (B08FDP/RDP)
BY
Kazuo Saito, Masaru Kunii, Masahiro Hara and Hiromu Seko
Tabito Hara and Munehiko Yamaguchi
Takemasa Miyoshi
andWai-kin Wong

気象研究所技術報告
第 62 号

WWRP 北京オリンピック 2008 予報実証/研究開発プロジェクト
齊藤和雄、國井勝、原昌弘、瀬古弘
原旅人、山口宗彦
三好建正、黄偉健

気象研究所
METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, JAPAN
April 2010

METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Established in 1946
Director-General: Mr. Hidemi Ito
Forecast Research Department
Climate Research Department
Typhoon Research Department
Physical Meteorology Research Department
Atmospheric Environment andApplied Meteorology Research Department
Meteorological Satellite andObservation System Research Department
Seismology and Volcanology Research Department
Oceanographic Research Department
Geochemical Research Department

Director: Dr. Tadashi Tsuyuki
Director: Dr. Akio Kitoh
Director: Dr. Tetsuo Nakazawa
Director: Dr. Mitsuru Ueno
Director: Dr. Masao Mikami
Director: Dr. Masahito Ishihara
Director: Dr. Sumio Yoshikawa
Director: Dr. Masahumi Kamachi
Director: Dr. Takashi Midorikawa

1-1 Nagamine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0052 JapanTECHNICAL REPORTS OF THE METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Editor-in-chief:
Editors:

Sumio Yoshikawa

Masahiro Hara
Masayoshi Ishii
Shigenori Haginoya
Tsuyoshi Sekiyama
Yutaka Hayashi
Mikitoshi Hirabara
Managing Editors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Tomohisa Yoshida

Shinya Minato
Hanako Inoue
Yousuke Sawa

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TECHNICAL REPORTS OF THE METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE No. 62

WWRP Beijing 2008 Olympics Forecast Demonstration /Research and Development Project (B08FDP/RDP)
by
Kazuo Saito, Masaru Kunii, Masahiro Hara, Hiromu Seko,
Tabito Hara, Munehiko Yamaguchi, Takemasa Miyoshi
andWai-kin Wong

気象研究所技術報告
第６２号

WWRP 北京オリンピック 2008 予報実証/研究開発プロジェクト
斉藤和雄・國井勝・原昌弘・瀬古弘
原旅人・山口宗彦・三好建正・黄偉健

気 象 研 究 所
METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, JAPANWWRP Beijing 2008 Olympics Forecast Demonstration/
Research and Development Project (B08FDP/RDP)
by
Kazuo Saito, Masaru Kunii, Masahiro Hara and Hiromu Seko
Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency

Tabito Hara and Munehiko Yamaguchi

Numerical Prediction Division, Japan Meteorological Agency

Takemasa Miyoshi
University of Maryland

andWai-kin Wong

Hong Kong Observatoryii

Contents
A. Preface
B. Overview of the project
C. 2006 Preliminary ExperimentC-1. Overview of the 2006 preliminary experimentC-2. Numerical model for the 2006 experiment
C-3 Initial and boundary conditions
C-4. Initial perturbation method (WEP method)
C-5. Products
C-6. Verification
C-6-1 Verification by MRI
C-6-2 Verification by CMA
D. 2007 Preliminary ExperimentD-1. Overview of the 2007 preliminary experimentD-2. Numerical model for the 2007 experimentD-3. Initial and boundary conditions
D-4. Initial perturbation methods
D-4-1. WEP method
D-4-2. Targeted singular vector (GSV) method
D-4-3. Mesoscale singular vector (MSV) method
D-4-4. Mesoscale breeding growing mode (MBD) method
D-4-5. Comparison of the 4 methods
D-5. Perturbation for soil temperature
D-6. Experimental system
D-6-1. Experimental system
D-6-2. Web visualization
D-6-3. GRIB-2 transformation
D-7. Verification
D-7-1.Verification by MRI
D-7-2. Verification by CMA
D-8. Tier-2 experimentE. 2008 ExperimentE-1. Overview of the 2008 experimentE-2. Numerical model for the 2008 experimentE-2-1. Tuning of Kain-Fritsch parameterization
E-2-2. Revision of predicting soil wetness
E-2-3. Numerical diffusion and other parametersE-2-4. Adoption of generalized vertical hybrid coordinates
E-3. Initial and boundary conditions
E-3-1. Application of Meso 4D-VAR
E-3-2. Assimilation of rainfall observation
E-3-3. Soil temperatures
E-3-4. Verification of control forecasts in MRI/JMA
E-3-5. Lateral boundary condition for control run
E-4. Initial perturbation methods
E-4-1. WEP method
E-4-2. GSV method
E-4-3. MSV method
E-4-4. MBD method
E-4-5. Local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LET) method
E-4-6. Comparison of the 5 methods
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E-5. Boundary perturbation
E-5-1. Lateral boundary perturbation by GSV
E-5-2. Lateral boundary perturbation by WEP
E-5-3. Perturbation for soil temperatureE-5-4. Effect of lateral boundary perturbations in MBD
E-5-5. Effect of lateral boundary perturbations in LETKF
E-6. Experimental system
E-6-1. Experimental system
E-6-2. Web visualization
E-6-3. GRIB-2 transformation
E-7. Verification
E-7-1. Verification of control run
E-7-2. Verification as the ensemble prediction system
E-7-3. Verification by CMA
E-8. Contribution to the FDP projectE-8-1. Support to the Hong Kong Observatory
E-8-2. SWIRLS in B08FDP
F. Scientific bases
F-1. One-Week Ensemble Prediction System at the Japan Meteorological Agency
F-1-1. Breeding of Growing Modes
F-1-2. System Configurations of the One-Week EPS
F-2. Typhoon Ensemble Prediction System at the Japan Meteorological Agency
F-2-1. General specifications
F-2-2. Initial perturbations
F-2-3. Case studies
F-2-4. Quasi-operational application
F-2-5. Summary
F-3. NHM-LETKF
F-3-1. Basic concept of LETKF
F-3-2. Practical application to NHM
F-4. Surface process
F-4-1. Surface flux scheme
F-4-2. Evaporation efficiency at surface
F-5. Turbulent process
F-5-1. Eddy viscosity model
F-5-2. Mellor-Yamada model
F-5-3. Partial condensation
F-5-4. Improvement in the Mellor-Yamada model by Nakanishi and Niino
G. Ensemble prediction experiments over other areas
G-1. Japan area experiment to support TPARC
G-1-1. Overview and motivation
G-1-2. Experimental design and results
G-1-3. Sensitivity analysis
G-2. Heavy rainfall experiments
G-2-1 Heavy rainfall experiments using mesoscale SV
G-2-2 Heavy rainfall experiments using LETKF
G-3. Potential forecast for tornado genesis
G-4. Ensemble prediction of Myanmar cyclone Nargis
H. References

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序
世界気象機関（WMO）は、社会･経済への影響の大きな天気現象に対して費用対効果の高い予報技術を開発し、それを加盟国等へ普及することを使命とする「世界天気研究計画（WWRP）」を、1998 年に立ち上げた。WWRP のもとで実施される国際プロジェクトは、予報改善のために必要な科学的理解を深め、技術開発を推進する研究開発プロジェクト（RDP）と、それらの利益を具体的に示すために、利用者へのリアルタイムの情報伝達まで含んで実施される予報実証プロジェクト（FDP）に区分された。今回の技術報告のテーマである「北京オリンピック 2008 予報実証／研究開発プロジェクト（B08FDP/RDP）」は、2008
年北京オリンピックの天気予報を対象として実施された WWRP の国際プロジェクトである。
本プロジェクトは、中国気象局による 2002 年の当初提案の段階から気象庁の参加が期待されていたが、結局、気象研究所が気象庁予報部の協力を得て B08RDP のコンポーネントに参加することになった。
気象庁の現業メソ数値予報モデルの予測精度は、高解像度化や物理過程の改善などのモデルの改良と、4 次元変分法などデータ同化手法の高度化と新規データ利用の進展による初期値の改善により、近年着実に向上している。しかしながら、災害につながる豪雨を場所と時間を特定して予測することには、現在でも多くの困難がある。不安定な大気状態で発生する
局地的な大雨は特に予測が難しく、現象のスケールが小さいこと、僅かな初期値や計算条件の違いで結果が大きく変わる場合があること、などがその原因になっている。このように決定論的な予測が困難な場合に有効な予測手法としてアンサンブル予報があり、すでに週間天
気予報や季節予報などで実用化されている。アンサンブル予報を短期予報に応用しようとする取り組みが国内外で始まっているが、メソ現象、特に顕著現象を対象とするアンサンブル
予報については課題が多い。B08RDP は、メソ現象を対象とするアンサンブル予報の国際比較実験であり、米国やカナダなどこの分野で先行する国を含む 5 ヶ国 7 機関が参加した。オ
リンピックを対象に実施されたリアルタイム比較実験として社会的にも注目され、新聞やテレビなどでも報道された。
本技術報告では、プロジェクトの参加を通じて開発された、メソアンサンブル予報に関わるさまざまな摂動手法や検証手法などについての記述されている。この中には、将来の有力なデータ同化手法と注目されている局所アンサンブル変換カルマンフィルタをメソアンサン
ブル予報に適用した試みも含まれている。また、メソ 4 次元変分法の中国域への適用や、雲解像モデルによる実験、香港天文台が参加したナウキャストプロジェクト（B08FDP）へのサポートについても報告している。これらの技術開発は、気象研究所融合型経常研究「非静力学モデルによるメソ現象の予測と解明に関する研究」の副課題「メソ現象予測のための初期値解析技術の高度化」と「メソ現象の予測可能性に関する研究」の一環として行われ、平成 21 年度からは融合型経常研究「メソスケールデータ同化とアンサンブル予報に関する研究」に引き継がれている。このプロジェクトへの参加を通じて得られた知見や開発成果が今後さらに発展し、将来の実用化につながることを期待したい。
2010 年 4 月

予報研究部長露木 義v

WWRP 北京オリンピック 2008 予報実証/研究開発プロジェクト
斉藤和雄 * ・國井勝 † ・原昌弘*・瀬古弘*
原旅人 ‡ ・山口宗彦‡・三好建正 § ・黄偉健 **WWRP 北京オリンピック 2008 予報実証/研究開発プロジェクト(B08FDP/RDP)は，2008
年北京オリンピックに合わせて行われた短期予報に関する国際比較実験で、世界気象機関世界天気研究計画（WMO WWRP）傘下の研究計画として行われた。B08FDP/RDP は、2000
年にシドニーオリンピックに合わせて行われた国際予報実証実験 Sydney 2000FDP（日本は不参加）に引き続く研究計画として 2003 年 9 月オスロでの第 6 回 WWRP 科学運営委員会
において中国気象局から正式提案され、2004 年 10 月ボルダーでの第 7 回 WWRP 科学運営委員会において承認された。ナウキャストに基づく 6 時間先までの予報実証実験(FDP)コン
ポーネントと 36 時間先までの予報についての研究開発プロジェクト (RDP) コンポーネン
トに分けて実施された。この技術報告は、気象研究所が気象庁予報部数値予報課の協力を得て参加した B08RDP プロジェクトに関連した数値モデリング活動の内容と、B08FDP プロ
ジェクトにおける香港天文台の参加と気象研究所の協力について記述した。
B08RDP の実質的な活動は 2005 年に始まり、第 1 回ワークショップが 2005 年 3 月に北京で行われ、日本が RDP コンポーネントへの参加を表明した。データ転送を兼ねた予備実
験は 2006 年から始まり、2006 年と 2007 年の予備実験の結果を受けて第 2 回ワークショッ
プが 2006 年 8 月に北京で、第 3 回ワークショップが 2007 年 9 月に青島で開催された。
RDP コンポーネントは，Tier-1 と呼ばれる水平解像度 15 km の領域モデルによるメソア
ンサンブル予報の比較実験と，Tier-2 と呼ばれる水平解像度 4km 以下の雲解像モデルによるケーススタディに分けられている。気象研究所では、Tier-1 比較実験にあたり、メソアン
サンブル予報のための初期値・境界値摂動手法の開発、メソ 4 次元変分データ同化手法の中国域への適用と中国での降水情報の同化、非静力学メソ数値予報モデルの調整などを行った。
初期値摂動手法に関しては、週間アンサンブル予報のダウンスケール法、全球ターゲット特異ベクトル法，メソ特異ベクトル法, メソブリーディング法、局所アンサンブル変換カルマ
ンフィルタによるアンサンブル変換を用いる方法、の５つの手法を開発・比較した。本実験に先立って、初期値摂動手法を選択するため、予報誤差に対するスプレッドの比と予報時間に対するスプレッドの変化傾向、アンサンブル平均の対初期値 RMSE の大きさ、降水のアン
サンブル平均のスコアとブライアスコア、等を客観的に比較した。また境界値摂動に関しては、週間アンサンブル予報から与える手法と、全球ターゲット特異ベクトル法からの全球予報から与える 2 つの方法を開発し、領域アンサンブル予報における境界値摂動の重要性を示した。
B08FDP/RDP の本実験は，2008 年 8 月 8 日～24 日の北京オリンピックに合わせて，2008
年 7 月下旬から約 1 ヵ月間実施された。主な参加国（機関）は、FDP が中国(中国気象局国家気象センターと中国気象科学院)、米国(国立シビアストーム研究所)、カナダ(カナダ大気環
境サービス)，香港（香港天文台），オーストラリア(オーストラリア気象局)、RDP が，中国((中国気象局国家気象センターと中国気象科学院)，米国(国立環境予測センターと国立大気研究センター)，カナダ(カナダ気象局)，日本（気象庁気象研究所），オーストリア&フランス(ZAMG & Meteo France)である．このうち，RDP の Tier-1 アンサンブル実験では、北京周辺の 105~125E, 30~45N の領域を共通検証領域と位置づけ、7 月 24 日～8 月 24 日の毎日、*

気象研究所予報研究部
気象研究所台風研究部‡
気象庁予報部数値予報課§
メリーランド大学
**
香港天文台
†

vi

12UTC を初期値とする 36 時間予報のアンサンブル予報の各メンバーの 3 時間おきの予報値
データを，0.15 度の共通格子に GRIB2 フォーマットにより 2230UTC までに CMA の ftp サーバーに準リアルタイム送信した。これらの結果は B08RDP プロジェクトのウェブサイトに
リアルタイム表示され，北京市気象局 (BMB) によるオリンピック会場の当日予報の参考にも用いられた。
2008 年の本実験の成果については、2009 年 4 月に広州で開催された第 4 回ワークショッ
プで報告されている。気象研究所の予報は、降水・気温の予測とも、コントロールランでは、参加 6 機関中トップクラスで、アンサンブル予報でも気温のアンサンブル平均や降水のブラ
イアスコアで良好な成績だったが、地表要素のアンサンブルスプレッドが予報誤差に比べてまだ小さいことや、強い雨の確率予報や降水有無の捕捉率が十分ではないなどでは課題を残した。物理過程摂動を考慮していなかったことやアンサンブルメンバー数が 11 と少なめであったこと等が原因として考えられる他、摂動手法にも改善の余地があったと思われる。本
報告では、比較実験終了後に行った、再実験による結果も一部紹介している。
B08RDP 本実験期間終了後は 9 月下旬までの 1 ヶ月、WWRP 傘下の研究計画でもある観測システム予報可能性実験 (THORPEX) の太平洋アジア地域キャンペーン(T-PARC)への支援を兼ねて、領域を日本に移して準リアルタイムでメソアンサンブル予報実験を行った。
この期間中、メソ特異ベクトル法に基づく感度解析も準リアルタイムで実行した。
本プロジェクトを遂行するにあたり、多くの方々の協力・助力を頂いた。中国気象局 Gong
Jiandong 博士、Deng Guo 博士をはじめとする B08RDP 国際科学運営委員会事務局の労を多とするとともに、Li Yingling 氏、Li Li 氏などによる検証結果の一部を本報告に引用させて頂いた。メソ 4 次元変分法解析で同化した FDP による北京周辺の解析雨量 (STEPS) は、
オーストラリア気象局の Alan Seed 博士が作成したものである。また気象研究所電計管理班
からは、B08RDP と T-PARC 支援準リアルタイム実験期間中の特別ジョブクラスを設定頂いた。本田有機、経田正幸、藤田匡、酒井亮太、佐藤清富、の各位をはじめとする気象庁予報部数値予報課の方々には、中国域を対象とする全球予報値の気象研究所への転送や
NHM-LETKF の改良について、様々な力添えを頂いた。また本稿の原稿について、上記の方々や気象研究所の露木義、中村誠臣、数値予報課の小泉耕、石田純一、小野耕介、小森拓也の各位よりコメントを頂いた。これらの方々に深く感謝するものである。
本報告の構成は以下のようになっている。B 章で B08FDP/RDP プロジェクトについて、C章と D 章で 2006 年と 2007 年 Tier-1 予備実験のシステムと結果を簡単に記述した。2007
年実験は、3km 解像度による Tier-2 実験の結果も含んでいる。E 章では、2008 年本実験でのモデル、初期・境界条件と摂動、実験システム、検証結果を示した。香港天文台が参加した FDP 実験に関して、気象研究所のサポートと香港天文台の短時間予測システム SWIRLSについて香港天文台の黄偉健氏より寄稿頂いた。F 章では、プロジェクトの技術的なベースとしての週間アンサンブル予報や局所アンサンブル変換カルマンフィルタ、乱流クロージャモデルなどについて記述した。G 章では、T-PARC 支援のための日本域実験やいくつかのアンサンブル予報の応用事例について紹介した。本報告は、D-4-3, D-6-1, E-3-1, E-3-2, E-3-3,
E-3-4, E-4-3, E-6, E-7-1, E-7-2, E-8-1, G-1, G-2-1 を主に國井が、D-4-2, E-4-2, E-5-1 を主に原昌弘が、D-5, D-6-2, D-6-3, D-7-1, D-8, E-4-5, E-4-6c, G-2-2, G-3 を主に瀬古が、F-1, F-2
を山口が、E-2-2, F-4, F-5 を原旅人が、F-3 を三好が、E-8-2 を黄（香港天文台）が、それ以外を主に斉藤が書いた。

vii

A. Preface
This technical report describes modeling activities by the Meteorological Research Institute(MRI) for the WWRP Beijing 2008 Olympics Forecast Demonstration Project/Research andDevelopment Project (B08FDP/RDP). MRI participated in B08RDP in collaboration with the
Numerical Prediction Division (NPD) of the Japan Meteorological Agency (NPD/JMA). The mainpart of the B08RDP project, called Tier-1, is an intercomparison of mesoscale ensemble prediction
systems (EPSs). MRI applied the JMA nonhydrostatic model (NHM) with a horizontal resolution of
15 km to the ensemble prediction and developed five initial perturbation methods; one-week EPS
downscaling, the targeted global singular vector (SV) method, the mesoscale SV method, the breedinggrowing mode (BGM) method and a local ensemble transform (LET) method based on the local
ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF). Prior to the 2008 intercomparison, the five methods werecompared objectively by evaluating ensemble spreads, the root mean square error (RMSE) of theensemble mean against the analysis, the quantitative precipitation scores for the ensemble mean andprobabilistic forecasts. To improve the initial conditions, the JMA mesoscale four-dimensionalvariational assimilation (Meso 4D-Var) system was applied to the Beijing area, and precipitation
information over China was assimilated. In addition, two lateral boundary perturbation methods weredeveloped, and their impacts on the ensemble forecast were examined. Importance of lateral boundary
perturbations in the BGM and LETKF cycles was also shown.
Six international participants conducted the intercomparison for a one-month period, from 24
July to 23 August, in 2008, and they reported their results at the fourth B08RDP workshop, held at
Guangzhou in April 2009. Generally speaking, the MRI EPS performed well, both in the control run
and also in ensemble forecasts of weak to moderate precipitation and of surface temperature. During
the period of the Beijing Olympic Games, MRI also collaborated with the Hong Kong Observatory(HKO) in the application of their nowcasting system, called SWIRLS, as part of B08FDP.
After the 2008 intercomparison, the EPS domain was shifted from China to Japan, and mesoscaleensemble predictions were performed for another month in support of the THORPEX Pacific AsianRegional Campaign. During this period, sensitivity analyses based on the mesoscale singular vector
method were also conducted in near real time.
The authors of this technical report thank many people for their help in making possible ourparticipation in the B08FDP/RDP. In particular, we are grateful to Dr. Gong Jiandong, Dr. Yihong
Duan, Dr. Deng Guo, Dr. Li Xiali and Dr. Li Yinglin of the China Meteorological Administration(CMA), whose efforts were indispensable, and we also acknowledge the CMA for supporting thisinternational project. We appreciate CMA’s courtesy for giving us permission to quote theirverification results in this technical report. We also thank members of the International Science
Steering Committees (ISSC) and the International Technical Supporting Team (ITeST) of
B08RDP/FDP, especially Dr. Jun Du of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Dr. Martin
Charron of the Meteorological Service of Canada, Dr. Yong Wang of the Zentral Anstalt fur
Meterologie und Geodynamik, Dr. Dehui Chen of the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences
and Dr. Bill Kuo of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Dr. Alan Seed of theAustralian Bureau of Meteorology provided the precipitation analysis data for the Beijing area that we
assimilated with the Meso 4D-Var system. Dr. Juanzhen Sun of NCAR provided us a figure of radarreflectivity distribution over China quoted in Section D-8. We also thank the staff of MRI for1

supporting our modeling work, especially for the use of MRI’s SX-6 super computer system. We arealso grateful to Yuki Honda, Masayuki Kyouda, Tadashi Fujita, Ryouta Sakai, Kiyotomi Sato andother staff members of NPD/JMA for their help with the transfer of near-real-time data from NPD to
MRI and for improving the EPS. Comments by Tadashi Tsuyuki and Masaomi Nakamura of MRI, andby Ko Koizumi, Jun-ichi Ishida, Kosuke Ono and Takuya Komori of NPD on the manuscript
improved this report.
The report is organized as follows. Section B presents an overview of the B08FDP/RDP project.
Sections C and D report MRI’s preliminary EPS results obtained in experiments conducted in 2006
and 2007, respectively. The Tier 2 cloud-resolving ensemble forecast results are also reported in
Section D. Section E describes the 2008 forecast model, the initial and boundary conditions and theirperturbations, the experimental system, and verification results. The application of the HKO's
SWIRLS nowcasting system in B08FDP and MRI’s role in support of this application are also
introduced in Section E. In Section F, the scientific bases of JMA’s one-week EPS, the nonhydrostatic
model–LETKF, and the Mellor-Yamada-Nakanishi-Niino (MYNN3) turbulent closure model aredescribed. In Section G, mesoscale ensemble prediction results for Japan, conducted as part of the
THORPEX Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (T-PARC), and other examples of the application of themesoscale EPS developed in B08RDP are presented.
Sections D-4-3, D-6-1, E-3-1, E-3-2, E-3-3, E-3-4, E-4-3, E-6, E-7-1, E-7-2, E-8-1, G-1 andG-2-1 were written mainly by M. Kunii; sections D-4-2, E-4-2 and E-5-1 by M. Hara; and D-5, D-6-2,
D-6-3, D-7-1, D-8, E-4-5, E-4-6c, G-2-2 and G-3 by H. Seko. F-1 and F-2 were written by M.
Yamaguchi; E-2-2, F-4 and F-5 by T. Hara; F-3 by T. Miyoshi; and E-8-2 by W.K. Wong (HKO).
Other sections were written mainly by K. Saito.

2B. Overview of the B08FDP/RDP project and participation of MRI
The WWRP Beijing 2008 Olympics Forecast Demonstration / Research and Development Project(B08FDP/RDP), which was conducted in conjunction with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, was aninternational research project of the World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) of the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) for short range weather forecasting. This research project, which
succeeded the Sydney 2000 Forecast Demonstration Project (Sydney 2000FDP; Keenan et al., 2003),
was proposed by CMA in September 2003 at the sixth session of the WWRP Science Steering
Committee, held in Oslo, Norway, and was officially approved in October 2004 at the seventh session,
held in Boulder, Colorado, in the United States.
The B08FDP/RDP was divided into two components; the FDP component for a very short range
forecast up to 6 hours based on the nowcasting, and the RDP component for a short range forecast up
to 36 hours based on the mesoscale ensemble prediction system (MEPS). The first WWRP
B08FDP/RDP workshop was held in 2005 in Beijing. There, the Meteorological Research Instituteproposed to participate in the RDP component in collaboration with the Numerical Prediction Divisionof JMA. The RDP component was further divided into two parts; Tier-1, consisting of mesoscaleensemble prediction by regional models with a horizontal resolution of 15 km; and Tier-2, case studies
using cloud resolving models with horizontal resolutions of less than 3 km. Prior to theintercomparison performed in summer 2008, preliminary experiments testing the data transfer and the
EPSs of the six participants were carried out in summer 2006 and summer 2007. The second and thirdworkshops were held after completion of the preliminary experiments, in August 2006 in Beijing and
in September 2007 in Qindao, China, respectively.
The 2008 B08FDP/RDP experiment was conducted for about one month in summer 2008 tocoincide with the period of the Beijing Olympic Games, which took place from 8 to 24 August 2008.
The major FDP participants were the National Meteorological Center of CMA (NMC/CMA), theAtmospheric Environmental Service of Canada (AES), the United States National Severe Storm
Laboratory (NSSL), the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology(BOM). The Tier-1 RDP participants were NMC/CMA, the Chinese Academy of Meteorological
Sciences (CAMS/CMA), the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), theMeteorological Service of Canada (MSC), the Zentral Anstalt fur Meterologie und Geodynamik(ZAMG) of Austria and Meteo-France, and MRI/JMA. The U.S. National Center for AtmosphericResearch (NCAR), NMC and MRI/JMA conducted the Tier-2 case studies. In the Tier-1 ensemble
experiment, participants were requested to run their ensemble predictions for a forecast time of up to
36 hours, starting every day at 12 UTC. The results were interpolated into common verification gridswith a resolution of 0.15° over a common verification domain (105~125°E, 30~45°N). The grid pointvalues (GPVs) were converted into GRIB2 format and transferred to the CMA’s data server by 2230
UTC each day. The participants’ ensemble predictions products were displayed by CMA on the
B08RDP project website in near real time and were also utilized as reference information for the
Beijing Meteorological Bureau’s daily forecasts for the Olympic Games’ venues. The project’s
achievements and other project-related subjects were discussed at the fourth workshop, held in
Guangzhou in April 2009. A summary report (Duan et al., 2009) was submitted to the WWRP joint
scientific committee in August 2009.
3

C. 2006 Preliminary ExperimentC-1. Overview of the 2006 preliminary experiment
A preliminary test for B08RDP was performed from 8 to 24 August 2006 by the five
participating forecast centers; MRI/JMA, NCEP, MSC, NMC/CMA and CAMS/CMA. Main purposesof the 2006 experiment were construction of each participant’s mesoscale ensemble prediction
system (MEPS) and test of the data transfer. In the Tier-1 experiment, MEPs with a horizontal
resolution of 15 km were conducted. Specifications of Tier-1 EPSs of 5 participants are listed in Table
C-1-1.
Table C-1-1. Specifications of Tier-1 EPS of five participating centers in the 2006 experiment.
Participants

Model (number of Initialensemble member) (IC)NCEP

WRF-NMM (5)WRF-ARW (5)NCEP
3D-VAR

MRI/JMA

JMA-NHM (11)

JMA
4DVAR

MSC

GEM (16)

NMC/CMA
CAMS/CMA

Condition IC perturbation

Physicalperturbation

LBC

Global Breeding

Multi-model

Global EPS

WRF-ARW (15)Regional Downscale of non
Global
EPS
(WEP)
MSC
Global Targeted Global Markov chain
3D-VARSV
WRF-3DVAR
Breeding
non

MSC
Global EPS
Global Forecast

GRAPES (11)

GRAPES-3DVAR

Global Forecast

Breeding

Multi-physics

JMA Regional
Forecast

C-2. Numerical model for the 2006 experiment
MRI/JMA conducted 11 member mesoscale ensemble predictions with the JMA nonhydrostatic
model (NHM; Saito et al., 2006a) which covers a domain of 3300 km x 3000 km (Fig. C-2-1). Thisdomain was slightly smaller than the recommended area in B08RDP (3500 km x 3000 km) due to thecoverage of the lateral boundary condition given by the Regional Spectral Model (RSM) of JMA (seeC-3). In Fig. C-2-1, a fan-shaped sector over east China indicates the domain of the common verification
area (105~125°E, 30~45°N). Note that the southwestern corner of the verification domain wasembedded in the lateral boundary relaxation layers of NHM (24 grids = 360 km). Except thehorizontal resolution and the domain size, most of them are the same as in the JMA operational
mesoscale model (MSM) as of September 2004. That is, vertically, 40 levels with variable gridintervals of Δz = 40 m to 1180 m were employed, where the model top and the lowest level werelocated at 22060 m and 20 m, respectively. An explicit three-ice bulk microphysics scheme wasincorporated, while the subgrid convection was parameterized by the Kain-Fritsch schemes. Details ofphysical processes and the operational application are given in Saito et al. (2006a).

4

Fig. C-2-1. Domain of the MRI/JMA 2006preliminary experiment (solid rectangle).
Fan-shaped sector over east China indicates thedomain of 0.15 degree common verification
grids (105~125°E, 30~45°N). Broken lines
show the boundary relaxation area. Broken
rectangle left of the model domain shows thesize of the recommended domain. Whole
domain of this figure corresponds with the areathat the RSM forecast was transferred to MRI
as the lateral boundary conditions.

C-3. Initial and boundary conditions for the control run
In the 2006 experiment, the unperturbed initial conditions for MRI’s EPS were given byinterpolation of the initial conditions of the JMA operational Regional spectral model (RSM; 20 km
L40).

The initial condition of RSM was produced by the JMA operational regional analysis (RA),which employed a 4 dimensional variational method (Regional 4D-VAR; Shimbori and Koizumi,2004). Horizontal resolution of the analysis was 20 km, while the inner loop model for data
assimilation window (6 hours from 09 UTC to 15 UTC) was 40 km resolution. The boundary
conditions were given by the forecast of RSM three hourly. These data were transferred from
NPD/JMA to MRI through an exclusive line when the forecast of RSM at 12 UTC was finished. The
original domain of RSM covered the East Asia domain of 6500 km x 5140 km, but data only over thedomain of Fig. C-2-1, inside of the lateral boundary relaxation layers, were transferred to MRI as theboundary conditions. Thus, western edge of EPS model domain was inevitably limited as shown by abroken rectangle in Fig. C-2-1.

C-4. Initial perturbation method
As for the initial perturbations for MRI’s EPS, perturbations from the JMA operational one week
global EPS were employed in the 2006 experiment. The one week EPS at JMA was conducted with 51
members by the global spectral model (GSM) of JMA, whose initial perturbations were given by aglobal breeding method until October 2007 (see F-1). Initial perturbations in global model plane weretransferred from NPD daily through the exclusive line between JMA and MRI.
The simplest way to prepare initial conditions of the mesoscale ensemble forecast may be theinterpolation of one week global EPS’s initial conditions to a higher resolution mesoscale model.
However, we did not take this simple downscaling option because the JMA’s one week EPS wasconducted with a TL319L40 GSM, whose horizontal resolution (120 km) seemed insufficient to
supply initial conditions to the 15 km resolution mesoscale model.
To make the initial conditions of ensemble runs in the 2006 experiment at MRI, initial conditions of
the JMA’s one week EPS were first interpolated to the 15kmL40 NHM model planes and five positive5

perturbations are extracted by subtracting the interpolated field of the control run from perturbed runs.
Then, the perturbations are normalized and added to the initial condition of the control run of the 15
km NHM given by JMA’s regional 4DVAR. Additionally, the normalized perturbations are subtracted
from the initial condition of the control run of 15 km NHM to make five negative members.
In the normalization of the perturbation, normalization coefficients are determined so that root
mean square values of the perturbations at each level do not exceed prescribed upper limits of standard
error of analysis (0.7 hPa for MSL pressure, 1.8 m/s for horizontal winds (U and V), 0.7 K for
potential temperature and 15 % for relative humidity, respectively). These values are based on 70 % ofmagnitudes of the JMA’s operational Meso 4DVAR’s (Koizumi et al., 2005) statistical backgrounderrors, and are the same as used in the mesoscale ensemble experiments by Saito et al. (2006b) andSeko et al. (2009).
Specifications of the 2006 preliminary MEP experiment of MRI/JMA are listed in Table. C-2-1.
Table C-2-1. Specifications of the 2006 preliminary MEP experiment of MRI/JMA.
Forecast time (number of members)
Horizontal resolution (grid size)
Vertical levels
Initial condition for control run
Initial perturbation
Lateral boundary condition
Dynamics
Cloud microphysics
Convective parameterization
Turbulence
Ground temperature

36 hours (11 members)
Δx=15km (221×201) with the Lambert conformal projection
40 levels, Δz=40-1180 m
JMA operational Regional analysis
JMA operational one week global EPS（normalized）
JMA operational Regional model 3 hourly (no perturbation)
HE-VI scheme, Δt=60 sec, Δτ=17 sec
3 ice bulk method
Modified Kain-Fritsch scheme
Diagnostic TKE
Prognostic 4 soil levels (no initial perturbations)C-5. Products
Surface level data (2m temperature, 2m relative humidity, 10m winds, MSL pressure and 3 houraccumulated rain) at uniform 0.15° grids for a common verification domain (105~125°E, 30~45°N)
were transferred to CMA in GRIB2 format (for details of GRIB2 transformation, see D-6-3).
Examples of the ensemble forecasts for a case of 15 August 2006 are shown in Fig. C-5-1.

Fig. C-5-1. 3 hour accumulated rain for 12 hour forecast of NHM with the control run (Left),member M02p (center), and member M02m (Right). Initial time is 12 UTC 14 August 2006.

6C-6. Verification
C-6-1. Verification by MRI
Figure C-6-1 shows 24 hour forecasts’ RMSEs of the control runs and the ensemble means against
the initial condition over the common verification domain. In all cases for 18 days from 2 to 19 August
2006, RMSEs of the ensemble mean forecasts are smaller than those of control runs in 10 m wind
(Left). Similar tendencies are seen in 2m temperatures (Right), relative humidity and precipitation(figures not shown).
Figure C-6-2 indicates time sequences of the ensemble spreads of surface forecast during theverification period. Spreads of horizontal winds (U and V) increase up to FT=27, while the spread of
U gradually decreases after that. Spread of the mean sea level (MSL) pressure reaches its maximum at
FT=7 and then slightly decreases. Spread of relative humidity (RH) is almost constant for mostsimulation period but decreases after FT=34. These tendencies are attributable to the fixed lateralboundary condition without perturbations. Compared with the forecast errors in Fig. C-6-1 (about 1.2
m/s for U and about 1 C for temperature), the ensemble spreads are insufficient.

1.8

1.6

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.2

1.2

1

1

U_M00
U_AVE

0.8

T00
T_AVE

0.8
0.6

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2

0

0
2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

2

19

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Fig. C-6-1. RMSEs of the control run (blue bars) and the ensemble mean (purple bars) over theverification domain at FT=24 against the initial conditions. Verification period is 18 days from 2
to 19 August. Left）10 m wind (U). Right）2 m temperature.
1.2

6

1

5

0.8

4

0.6

3

0.4

2

0.2

1

0

PSEA
U
V
T
RH
RR3H

0
0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

24

27

30

33

36

Fig. C-6-2. Time sequences of the ensemble spreads. Unit of the left vertical axis is ‘hPa’ for MSL
pressure (PSEA), ‘m/s’ for horizontal winds (U and V), ‘K’ for 2m temperature (T), respectively.
Unit of the right vertical axis is ‘%’ for relative humidity (RH) and ‘mm’ for 3 hour accumulated rain
(RR3H), respectively.

7C-6-2. Verification by CMA
Preliminary verification of the 2006 experiment was performed by CMA (Li and Li, 2006).
Forecast results in the common verification grids with a resolution of 0.15° (105~125°E, 30~45°N; Fig.
C-2-1) were compared with the 400 synoptic observation stations and 722 dense auto observation
stations (Fig. C-6-3). At every verification point, the domain with the radius of 0.075 degree wasscanned and observation values were interpolated to the verification grid; if there was no station
belonging to the 400 stations subset, a nearest auto station to the grid point was chosen.
Talagrand diagram for surface (2m) temperature at FT=24 of the MRI/JMA ensemble forecast is
given in Fig. C-6-4. Every member has a similar contribution to EPS but many of the observations
exceed the forecast range. As seen in Fig. C-6-5, ensemble spread is too small compared with theforecast errors (2-3 °C).
Similar tendencies were seen in EPS results by other participating centers (NCEP, MSC, NMC andCAMS). RMSE in the ensemble mean and the threat score of precipitation by MRI/JMA’s EPS wererelatively better than other participants (figures not shown).

Fig. C-6-3. Surface observation points usedfor verification in B08 RDP. After Li
and Li (2006). Courtesy of NMC/CMA.

Talagrand Distribution (2m temperature) averagefor 20060808-20060824
24 hours

0.50
0.45

Probability

0.40

Fig. C-6-4. Talagrand diagram on surface(2m) temperature at FT=24 of MRI/JMA
ensemble forecast. Period is 17 days
from 8 August to 24 August 2006. After
Li and Li (2006). Courtesy of
NMC/CMA.

0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

JMA 11 members at T12Z

8

JMA 2M temperature
Average for 22060808-20060814
7

RMS error

6
5

EPS mean
Spread

4
3
2
1
0
6

12

18

24

30

36

Forecast Hours

9

Fig. C-6-5. Ensemble spread and
RMSE of the ensemble mean forsurface (2m) temperatures by
the
MRI/JMA
ensemble
forecast. Period is 17 days
from 8 August to 24 August
2006. After Li and Li (2006).
Courtesy of NMC/CMA.