Please wait a minute...
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

ISSN 2095-2201

ISSN 2095-221X(Online)

CN 10-1013/X

Postal Subscription Code 80-973

2018 Impact Factor: 3.883

Front Envir Sci Eng Chin    2011, Vol. 5 Issue (4) : 533-542    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-010-0246-6
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Conceptual study on incorporating user information into forecasting systems
Jiarui HAN1,2, Qian YE3(), Zhongwei YAN1, Meiyan JIAO4, Jiangjiang XIA1,2
1. Key Laboratory of Regional Climate-Environment Research for Temperate East Asia, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; 2. Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; 3. Consortium for Capacity Building, University of Colorado, Colorado 80309, USA; 4. China Meteorology Administration, Beijing 100081, China
 Download: PDF(397 KB)   HTML
 Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks
Abstract

The purpose of improving weather forecast is to enhance the accuracy in weather prediction. An ideal forecasting system would incorporate user-end information. In recent years, the meteorological community has begun to realize that while general improvements to the physical characteristics of weather forecasting systems are becoming asymptotically limited, the improvement from the user end still has potential. The weather forecasting system should include user interaction because user needs may change with different weather. A study was conducted on the conceptual forecasting system that included a dynamic, user-oriented interactive component. This research took advantage of the recently implemented TIGGE (THORPEX interactive grand global ensemble) project in China, a case study that was conducted to test the new forecasting system with reservoir managers in Linyi City, Shandong Province, a region rich in rivers and reservoirs in eastern China. A self-improving forecast system was developed involving user feedback throughout a flood season, changing thresholds for flood-inducing rainfall that were responsive to previous weather and hydrological conditions, and dynamic user-oriented assessments of the skill and uncertainty inherent in weather prediction. This paper discusses ideas for developing interactive, user-oriented forecast systems.

Keywords user-end information      user-oriented      interactive forecasting system      TIGGE (THORPEX interactive grand global ensemble)     
Corresponding Author(s): YE Qian,Email:qianye@yahoo.com   
Issue Date: 05 December 2011
 Cite this article:   
Jiarui HAN,Qian YE,Zhongwei YAN, et al. Conceptual study on incorporating user information into forecasting systems[J]. Front Envir Sci Eng Chin, 2011, 5(4): 533-542.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-010-0246-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2011/V5/I4/533
Fig.1  Schematic showing (a) current and (b) future data flow in the forecast process (reproduced from Ref. [])
Fig.2  Topography in Linyi region
Fig.3  Relationship between reservoir operating water level and FIRT (flood safe water lever (FS); flood permissible maximum water level (FPM); flood warning maximum water level (FWM); flood-inducing rainfall threshold (FIRT))
centre/(model name)forecast length/dmembersruns per day/(UTC)initial date of TIGGE operational model
CMA (babj)10152(00/12)May 15, 2007
NCEP (kwbc)16214(00/06/12/18)Mar 5, 2007
ECMWF (ecmf)15512(00/12)Oct 1, 2006
GE87
Tab.1  Key information of ensemble forecasting models we used
Fig.4  Threats scores of TIGGE GE forecast, based on the 1-d- to 10-d-forecast results during Jul. and Aug. 2008, at 7 different scales
Fig.5  Probability comparison between the TIGGE models’ forecast and observed precipitation in Linyi region during Jul. and Aug. 2008
Fig.6  Threats scores of TIGGE 95 percentile GE forecasts during Jul. 2008
Fig.7  Q-Q plots of stream flow against meteorological-gauge rainfall (a) and hydrological-gauge rainfall (b) in Linyi region in flood season from 2001 to 2008. The latter plot fits the stream flow data slightly better than the former. Combined with Fig. 6, the data suggest that the high skillfulness scores of TIGGE forecasts verification outcomes were susceptible against rainfall data from meteorological- gauge on the threshold exceeding 50mm·d, at least for RMs in Linyi region
Fig.8  Schematic showing conceptual frameworks UIFS
Fig.9  Schematic showing RM-oriented interactive flood-inducing rainfall forecasting system
Fig.10  Schematic output of RM-oriented interactive flood-inducing rainfall forecasting system
1 Stewart T R. Forecast value: Descriptive decision studies. In: Katz R W, Murphy A H, eds. Economic Value of Weather and Climate Forecasts . United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 1997, 147–181
doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511608278.006
2 Pielke R Jr, Carbone R E. Weather impacts, forecasts, and policy - An integrated perspective. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 2002, 83(3): 393–403
doi: 10.1175/1520-0477(2002)083<0393:WIFAP>2.3.CO;2
3 Stone R C, Meinke H. Weather, climate, and farmers: An overview. Meteorological Applications , 2006, 13(Suppl 1): 7–20
doi: 10.1017/S1350482706002519
4 Hu Q, Zillig L M P, Lynne G D, Tomkins A J, Waltman W J, Hayes M J, Hubbard K G, Artikov I, Hoffman S J, Wilhite D A. Understanding farmers’ forecast use from their beliefs, values, social norms, and perceived obstacles. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology , 2006, 45(9): 1190–1201
doi: 10.1175/JAM2414.1
5 Mass C. The uncoordinated giant - Why US weather research and prediction are not achieving their potential. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 2006, 87(5): 573–584
doi: 10.1175/BAMS-87-5-573
6 Morss R E, Wilhelmi O V, Downton M W, Gruntfest E. Flood risk, uncertainty, and scientific information for decision making - Lessons from an interdisciplinary project. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 2005, 86(11): 1593–1601
doi: 10.1175/BAMS-86-11-1593
7 Ye D Z, Yan Z W, Dai X H, Qian W H, Ye Q. A discussion of future system of weather and climate prediction. Meteorological Monthly , 2006, 32(4): 3–8 (in Chinese)
8 Demuth J L, Gruntfest E, Morss R E, Drobot S, Lazo J K. Building a community for integrating meteorology and social science. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 2007, 88(11): 1729–1737
doi: 10.1175/BAMS-88-11-1729
9 Perry J S. Atmospheric sciences and problems of society. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 1976, 57(2): 199–212
doi: 10.1175/1520-0477(1976)057<0199:ASAPOS>2.0.CO;2
10 Sarewitz D R, Pielke R A. Prediction in science and policy. In: Sarewitz D R, Pielke R A, Byerly R(eds). Prediction: Science, Decision Making, and the Future of Nature . USA: Island Press, 2000, 11–22
11 Shapiro M A, Thorpe A J. THORPEX International Science Plan. WMO, WWRP Document , 2004, 1–51
12 David R, Buizza R, Hagedorn R. First workshop on the THORPEX interactive grand global ensemble (TIGGE). WMO, WWRP Document , 2005, 1–39
13 Rabier F, Gauthier P, Cardinali C, Langland R, Tsyrulnikov M, Lorenc A, Steinle P, Gelaro R, Koizumi K. An update on THORPEX related research in data assimilation and observing strategies. Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics , 2008, 15(1): 81–94
doi: 10.5194/npg-15-81-2008
14 Casati B, Wilson L J, Stephenson D B, Nurmi P, Ghelli A, Pocernich M, Damrath U, Ebert E, Brown B G, Mason S. Forecast verification: current status and future directions. Meteorological Applications , 2008, 15(1): 3–18
doi: 10.1002/met.52
15 Morgan M C, Houghton D D, Keller L M. The future of medium-extended-range weather prediction—Challenges and a vision. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 2007, 88(5): 631–634
doi: 10.1175/BAMS-88-5-631
16 Palmer T N. The economic value of ensemble forecasts as a tool for risk assessment: From days to decades. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society , 2002, 128(581): 747–774
doi: 10.1256/0035900021643593
17 Dutton J A. Opportunities and priorities in a new era for weather and climate services. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 2002, 83(9): 1303–1311
18 Ritchie J W, Zammit C, Beal D. Can seasonal climate forecasting assist in catchment water management decision-making? A case study of the border rivers catchment in Australia. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment , 2004, 104(3): 553–565
doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2004.01.029
19 Stewart T R, Pielke R, Nath R. Understanding user decision making and the value of improved precipitation forecasts—Lessons from a case study. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 2004, 85(2): 223–235
doi: 10.1175/BAMS-85-2-223
20 Cunderlik J M, Simonovic S P. Inverse flood risk modelling under changing climatic conditions. Hydrological Processes , 2007, 21(5): 563–577
doi: 10.1002/hyp.6225
21 Han J R. Study on Public Needs and the Role of Media in Weather Services. Dissertation for the Master Degree . Beijing: Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, 2007, 18–32 (in Chinese)
22 Dessai S, Hulme M, Lempert R, Pielke R Jr. Do we need better predictions to adapt to a changing climate. Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union , 2009, 90(13): 111–112
doi: 10.1029/2009EO130003
23 Mylne K R. Decision-making from probability forecasts based on forecast value. Meteorological Applications , 2002, 9(3): 307–315
doi: 10.1017/S1350482702003043
25 Zhang Q Y, Tao S Y, Peng J B. The studies of meteorological disasters over China. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences , 2008, 32(4): 815–825 (in Chinese)
26 Liu J T, Zhang J B. Effect of antecedent soil water content on the uncertainty of hydrological simulation. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology , 2006, 28(4): 519–525 (in Chinese)
27 Li X Y, Gong J D, Gao Q Z. The experimental research of runoff yielding rainfall threshold in artificial catchments. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation , 2001, 12(4): 516–522 (in Chinese)
28 Wang H, Lei X H, Qin D Y, Wang J H, Zhou Z H. Basin runoff yielding model construction based on human activities. Resources Science , 2003, 25(6): 11–18 (in Chinese)
29 Jan van Andel S, Price R K, Lobbrecht A H, Van Kruiningen F, Mureau R. Ensemble precipitation and water level forecasts for anticipatory water-system control. Journal of Hydrometeorology , 2008, 9(4): 776–788
doi: 10.1175/2008JHM971.1
30 Gneiting T, Raftery A E. Atmospheric science. Weather forecasting with ensemble methods. Science , 2005, 310(5746): 248–249
doi: 10.1126/science.1115255
31 Pappenberger F, Bartholmes J, Thielen J, Cloke H L, Buizza R, de Roo A. New dimensions in early flood warning across the globe using grand-ensemble weather predictions. Geophysical Research Letters , 2008, 35(10): L10404–L10407
doi: 10.1029/2008GL033837
32 He Y, Wetterhall F, Cloke H L, Pappenberger F, Wilson M, Freer J, Mcgregor G. Tracking the uncertainty in flood alerts driven by grand ensemble weather predictions. Meteorological Applications , 2009, 132: 1–11
33 Johnson C, Swinbank R. Medium-range multimodel ensemble combination and calibration. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society , 2009, 135(640): 777–794
doi: 10.1002/qj.383
34 Komma J, Reszler C, Bloschl G, Haiden T. Ensemble prediction of floods-catchment non-linearity and forecast probabilities. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences , 2007, 7(4): 431–444
doi: 10.5194/nhess-7-431-2007
35 Park Y Y, Buizza R, Leutbecher M. TIGGE: preliminary results on comparing and combining ensembles. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society , 2008, 134(637): 2029–2050
doi: 10.1002/qj.334
36 Martina M L V, Todini E, Libralon A. Rainfall thresholds for flood warning systems: a Bayesian decision approach. Hydrol. Modelling Water Cycle , 2008, 6(3): 203–227
doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-77843-1_9
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed