Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous Environments

This contribution aims to summarize the current state of data assimilation research as applied to land and atmosphere simulation and prediction in mountainous environments. It identifies and explains critical challenges, and offers opportunities for productive research based on both models and obser...

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Main Authors: Joshua Hacker, Clara Draper, Luke Madaus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-03-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/4/127
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author Joshua Hacker
Clara Draper
Luke Madaus
author_facet Joshua Hacker
Clara Draper
Luke Madaus
author_sort Joshua Hacker
collection DOAJ
description This contribution aims to summarize the current state of data assimilation research as applied to land and atmosphere simulation and prediction in mountainous environments. It identifies and explains critical challenges, and offers opportunities for productive research based on both models and observations. Though many of the challenges to optimal data assimilation in the mountains are also challenges in flatter terrain, the complex land–atmosphere interactions and increased surface heterogeneity in the mountains violate key assumptions and methods in the data assimilation algorithms and the underlying models. The effects of model inadequacy are particularly acute in complex terrain. Recent research related to some of the key challenges suggest opportunities to make gains in both land and atmospheric data assimilation in the mountains. Research directions are suggested, focusing on model improvement in a data assimilation context, and design of field programs aimed at data assimilation.
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spelling doaj.art-888b4e43536248bda1f29e2ee715f5332022-12-21T17:58:06ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332018-03-019412710.3390/atmos9040127atmos9040127Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous EnvironmentsJoshua Hacker0Clara Draper1Luke Madaus2Jupiter, Boulder, CO 80305, USACooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USAJupiter, Boulder, CO 80305, USAThis contribution aims to summarize the current state of data assimilation research as applied to land and atmosphere simulation and prediction in mountainous environments. It identifies and explains critical challenges, and offers opportunities for productive research based on both models and observations. Though many of the challenges to optimal data assimilation in the mountains are also challenges in flatter terrain, the complex land–atmosphere interactions and increased surface heterogeneity in the mountains violate key assumptions and methods in the data assimilation algorithms and the underlying models. The effects of model inadequacy are particularly acute in complex terrain. Recent research related to some of the key challenges suggest opportunities to make gains in both land and atmospheric data assimilation in the mountains. Research directions are suggested, focusing on model improvement in a data assimilation context, and design of field programs aimed at data assimilation.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/4/127data assimilationmountainsland–atmosphere couplingmodel errorsobservation errors
spellingShingle Joshua Hacker
Clara Draper
Luke Madaus
Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous Environments
Atmosphere
data assimilation
mountains
land–atmosphere coupling
model errors
observation errors
title Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous Environments
title_full Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous Environments
title_fullStr Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous Environments
title_full_unstemmed Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous Environments
title_short Challenges and Opportunities for Data Assimilation in Mountainous Environments
title_sort challenges and opportunities for data assimilation in mountainous environments
topic data assimilation
mountains
land–atmosphere coupling
model errors
observation errors
url http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/4/127
work_keys_str_mv AT joshuahacker challengesandopportunitiesfordataassimilationinmountainousenvironments
AT claradraper challengesandopportunitiesfordataassimilationinmountainousenvironments
AT lukemadaus challengesandopportunitiesfordataassimilationinmountainousenvironments