Js. Goerss et Ra. Jeffries, ASSIMILATION OF SYNTHETIC TROPICAL CYCLONE OBSERVATIONS INTO THE NAVYOPERATIONAL GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC PREDICTION SYSTEM, Weather and forecasting, 9(4), 1994, pp. 557-576
In June 1990, the assimilation of synthetic tropical cyclone observati
ons into the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NO
GAPS) was initiated at Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FNOC). The
se observations are derived directly from the information contained in
the tropical cyclone warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Cen
ter (JTWC) and the National Hurricane Center. This paper describes the
se synthetic observations, the evolution of their use at FNOC, and the
details of their assimilation into NOGAPS. The results of a comprehen
sive evaluation of the 1991 NOGAPS tropical cyclone forecast performan
ce in the western North Pacific are presented. NOGAPS analysis and for
ecast position errors were determined for all tropical circulations of
tropical storm strength or greater. It was found that, after the assi
milation of synthetic observations, the NOGAPS spectral forecast model
consistently maintained the tropical circulations as evidenced by det
ection percentages of 96%, 90%, and 87% for 24-, 48-, and 72-h forecas
ts, respectively. The average forecast position errors were 188, 299,
and 434 km for the respective forecasts. The respective errors for the
One-Way Influence Tropical Cyclone Model (OTCM), one of JTWC's primar
y track-forecasting aids, were 215, 364, and 529 km. In homogeneous co
mparisons the percent improvement of the NOGAPS 48- and 72-h forecasts
was 14% and 12% over the OTCM and 31% and 33% over JTWC's operational
Climatology-Persistence Model.