Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North China
It is difficult to improve the seasonal prediction skill of winter temperature over North China, owing to the complex dynamics of East Asian winter and the relatively low prediction skill level of current climate models. Deep learning (DL) may be an informative and promising tool to enhance seasonal...
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/702 |
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| author | Liang Gao Young-Min Yang Qingqing Li Yoo-Geun Ham Jeong-Hwan Kim |
| author_facet | Liang Gao Young-Min Yang Qingqing Li Yoo-Geun Ham Jeong-Hwan Kim |
| author_sort | Liang Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is difficult to improve the seasonal prediction skill of winter temperature over North China, owing to the complex dynamics of East Asian winter and the relatively low prediction skill level of current climate models. Deep learning (DL) may be an informative and promising tool to enhance seasonal prediction, particularly in regions where the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Here, using a DL model based on the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), we have found that the prediction skill for North China winter temperature (NCWT) can be extended up to five months by considering the remote impact of the Northeast Pacific sea-surface temperature (SST) on North China. Based on historical simulations of winter temperatures in North China, we selected six CMIP5 models with relatively small deviations for training the CNN, and the period chosen for training was 1852–1991. The ERA5 data during 1995–2017 were utilized to evaluate the performance of the CNN. Our CNN shows the best performance in a recent 10-year period (2008–2017), showing a significantly improved level of NCWT prediction skill with a correlation skill of 0.65 at a 5-month lead time, which is much better than the forecast skill of the state-of-the-art dynamic seasonal prediction system. Heat map analysis was used to explore the possible physical mechanisms associated with the NCWT anomaly from the perspective of the CNN; the results showed that the SST over the Northeast Pacific is highly relevant to NCWT prediction. The Northeast Pacific warming in the boreal summer is related to the development of the El Niño event in the coming winter, which may induce NCWT anomalies by atmospheric teleconnection. Climate model experiments support the role of Northeast Pacific warming in the boreal summer on NCWT. The improved capability for prediction from using the CNN may help to establish the energy policy for the coming winter and reduce the economic losses from extremely cold in North China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:21:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-537f946920cb403782d0b7b9260348b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:21:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-537f946920cb403782d0b7b9260348b12023-11-23T10:01:30ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332022-04-0113570210.3390/atmos13050702Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North ChinaLiang Gao0Young-Min Yang1Qingqing Li2Yoo-Geun Ham3Jeong-Hwan Kim4School of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaDepartment of Oceanography, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, KoreaDepartment of Oceanography, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, KoreaIt is difficult to improve the seasonal prediction skill of winter temperature over North China, owing to the complex dynamics of East Asian winter and the relatively low prediction skill level of current climate models. Deep learning (DL) may be an informative and promising tool to enhance seasonal prediction, particularly in regions where the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Here, using a DL model based on the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), we have found that the prediction skill for North China winter temperature (NCWT) can be extended up to five months by considering the remote impact of the Northeast Pacific sea-surface temperature (SST) on North China. Based on historical simulations of winter temperatures in North China, we selected six CMIP5 models with relatively small deviations for training the CNN, and the period chosen for training was 1852–1991. The ERA5 data during 1995–2017 were utilized to evaluate the performance of the CNN. Our CNN shows the best performance in a recent 10-year period (2008–2017), showing a significantly improved level of NCWT prediction skill with a correlation skill of 0.65 at a 5-month lead time, which is much better than the forecast skill of the state-of-the-art dynamic seasonal prediction system. Heat map analysis was used to explore the possible physical mechanisms associated with the NCWT anomaly from the perspective of the CNN; the results showed that the SST over the Northeast Pacific is highly relevant to NCWT prediction. The Northeast Pacific warming in the boreal summer is related to the development of the El Niño event in the coming winter, which may induce NCWT anomalies by atmospheric teleconnection. Climate model experiments support the role of Northeast Pacific warming in the boreal summer on NCWT. The improved capability for prediction from using the CNN may help to establish the energy policy for the coming winter and reduce the economic losses from extremely cold in North China.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/702CNNseasonal predictionwinter temperature |
| spellingShingle | Liang Gao Young-Min Yang Qingqing Li Yoo-Geun Ham Jeong-Hwan Kim Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North China Atmosphere CNN seasonal prediction winter temperature |
| title | Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North China |
| title_full | Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North China |
| title_fullStr | Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North China |
| title_short | Deep Learning for Predicting Winter Temperature in North China |
| title_sort | deep learning for predicting winter temperature in north china |
| topic | CNN seasonal prediction winter temperature |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/702 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lianggao deeplearningforpredictingwintertemperatureinnorthchina AT youngminyang deeplearningforpredictingwintertemperatureinnorthchina AT qingqingli deeplearningforpredictingwintertemperatureinnorthchina AT yoogeunham deeplearningforpredictingwintertemperatureinnorthchina AT jeonghwankim deeplearningforpredictingwintertemperatureinnorthchina |