Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts

<p>Recently developed verification tools based on local wavelet spectra can isolate errors in the spatial structure of quantitative precipitation forecasts, thereby answering the question of whether the predicted rainfall variability is distributed correctly across a range of spatial scales. T...

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Main Authors: S. Buschow, P. Friederichs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2020-03-01
Series:Advances in Statistical Climatology, Meteorology and Oceanography
Online Access:https://www.adv-stat-clim-meteorol-oceanogr.net/6/13/2020/ascmo-6-13-2020.pdf
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author S. Buschow
P. Friederichs
author_facet S. Buschow
P. Friederichs
author_sort S. Buschow
collection DOAJ
description <p>Recently developed verification tools based on local wavelet spectra can isolate errors in the spatial structure of quantitative precipitation forecasts, thereby answering the question of whether the predicted rainfall variability is distributed correctly across a range of spatial scales. This study applies the wavelet-based structure scores to real numerical weather predictions and radar-derived observations for the first time. After tackling important practical concerns such as uncertain boundary conditions and missing data, the behaviour of the scores under realistic conditions is tested in selected case studies and analysed systematically across a large data set. Among the two tested wavelet scores, the approach based on the so-called map of central scales emerges as a particularly convenient and useful tool: summarizing the local spectrum at each pixel by its centre of mass results in a compact and informative visualization of the entire wavelet analysis. The histogram of these scales leads to a structure score which is straightforward to interpret and insensitive to free parameters like wavelet choice and boundary conditions. Its judgement is largely the same as that of the alternative approach (based on the spatial mean wavelet spectrum) and broadly consistent with other, established structural scores.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-72de6d60f54c448694259c7440aa8f032022-12-22T01:14:42ZengCopernicus PublicationsAdvances in Statistical Climatology, Meteorology and Oceanography2364-35792364-35872020-03-016133010.5194/ascmo-6-13-2020Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecastsS. BuschowP. Friederichs<p>Recently developed verification tools based on local wavelet spectra can isolate errors in the spatial structure of quantitative precipitation forecasts, thereby answering the question of whether the predicted rainfall variability is distributed correctly across a range of spatial scales. This study applies the wavelet-based structure scores to real numerical weather predictions and radar-derived observations for the first time. After tackling important practical concerns such as uncertain boundary conditions and missing data, the behaviour of the scores under realistic conditions is tested in selected case studies and analysed systematically across a large data set. Among the two tested wavelet scores, the approach based on the so-called map of central scales emerges as a particularly convenient and useful tool: summarizing the local spectrum at each pixel by its centre of mass results in a compact and informative visualization of the entire wavelet analysis. The histogram of these scales leads to a structure score which is straightforward to interpret and insensitive to free parameters like wavelet choice and boundary conditions. Its judgement is largely the same as that of the alternative approach (based on the spatial mean wavelet spectrum) and broadly consistent with other, established structural scores.</p>https://www.adv-stat-clim-meteorol-oceanogr.net/6/13/2020/ascmo-6-13-2020.pdf
spellingShingle S. Buschow
P. Friederichs
Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts
Advances in Statistical Climatology, Meteorology and Oceanography
title Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts
title_full Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts
title_fullStr Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts
title_full_unstemmed Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts
title_short Using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts
title_sort using wavelets to verify the scale structure of precipitation forecasts
url https://www.adv-stat-clim-meteorol-oceanogr.net/6/13/2020/ascmo-6-13-2020.pdf
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