Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State Index

The objective of this study is a scale-dependent analysis of precipitation forecasts of the German Weather Service's (DWD) non-hydrostatic Lokal-Modell (LM, COSMO-DE) with regard to dynamical-statistical parameters and cloud properties. We propose a newly designed Dynamic State Index (DSI) to e...

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Main Authors: Antje Névir Claussnitzer, Ines Langer, Eberhard Reimer, Ulrich Cubasch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Borntraeger 2008-12-01
Series:Meteorologische Zeitschrift
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0346
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author Antje Névir Claussnitzer
Ines Langer
Eberhard Reimer
Ulrich Cubasch
author_facet Antje Névir Claussnitzer
Ines Langer
Eberhard Reimer
Ulrich Cubasch
author_sort Antje Névir Claussnitzer
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study is a scale-dependent analysis of precipitation forecasts of the German Weather Service's (DWD) non-hydrostatic Lokal-Modell (LM, COSMO-DE) with regard to dynamical-statistical parameters and cloud properties. We propose a newly designed Dynamic State Index (DSI) to evaluate precipitation processes. The DSI is presented in the context of a case study in the synoptic scale and in a statistical approach. The DSI quantitatively describes the deviation from a stationary, adiabatic and reversible solution of the primitive equations. As demonstrated by the example of the winter storm "Kyrill", the analysis of the vertical structure of the DSI gives a relation to the IPV-Thinking, introduced by Hoskins et al. (1985). Furthermore, the DSI-pattern features the characteristic filament-like structure of rainbands with embedded convective cells. In a next step the DSI is not only correlated with modelled precipitation but also with observed precipitation as well as cloud types. The absolute value of the DSI shows moderate correlations with hourly LM and high correlations with hourly COSMO-DE forecast data, based on 24 hour predictions. The statistical analysis of clouds with the index reveals a DSI-threshold, which is used to introduce a novel precipitation activity index of different cloud classes. In conclusion, the results highlight the importance of dynamical processes for the generation of rainfall.
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spelling doaj.art-53a1ba0ca1b44b5eb72e6c4a16171e7a2024-02-02T14:45:28ZengBorntraegerMeteorologische Zeitschrift0941-29482008-12-0117681382510.1127/0941-2948/2008/034656829Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State IndexAntje Névir ClaussnitzerInes LangerEberhard ReimerUlrich CubaschThe objective of this study is a scale-dependent analysis of precipitation forecasts of the German Weather Service's (DWD) non-hydrostatic Lokal-Modell (LM, COSMO-DE) with regard to dynamical-statistical parameters and cloud properties. We propose a newly designed Dynamic State Index (DSI) to evaluate precipitation processes. The DSI is presented in the context of a case study in the synoptic scale and in a statistical approach. The DSI quantitatively describes the deviation from a stationary, adiabatic and reversible solution of the primitive equations. As demonstrated by the example of the winter storm "Kyrill", the analysis of the vertical structure of the DSI gives a relation to the IPV-Thinking, introduced by Hoskins et al. (1985). Furthermore, the DSI-pattern features the characteristic filament-like structure of rainbands with embedded convective cells. In a next step the DSI is not only correlated with modelled precipitation but also with observed precipitation as well as cloud types. The absolute value of the DSI shows moderate correlations with hourly LM and high correlations with hourly COSMO-DE forecast data, based on 24 hour predictions. The statistical analysis of clouds with the index reveals a DSI-threshold, which is used to introduce a novel precipitation activity index of different cloud classes. In conclusion, the results highlight the importance of dynamical processes for the generation of rainfall.http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0346
spellingShingle Antje Névir Claussnitzer
Ines Langer
Eberhard Reimer
Ulrich Cubasch
Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State Index
Meteorologische Zeitschrift
title Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State Index
title_full Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State Index
title_fullStr Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State Index
title_full_unstemmed Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State Index
title_short Scale-dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the Dynamic State Index
title_sort scale dependent analyses of precipitation forecasts and cloud properties using the dynamic state index
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0346
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AT eberhardreimer scaledependentanalysesofprecipitationforecastsandcloudpropertiesusingthedynamicstateindex
AT ulrichcubasch scaledependentanalysesofprecipitationforecastsandcloudpropertiesusingthedynamicstateindex