1. THORPEX Update Jim Caughey THORPEX IPO WMO Geneva GIFS-TIGGE
Working Group
9th Meeting
WMO, Geneva
31 August – 2 September 2011

2. Working Group – Highlights DAOS WG
The main objectives of the DAOS-WG are:
Address data assimilation issues including the development of improved understanding of the sources and growth of errors in analyses and forecasts
Promote research activities that lead to the better use of observations for global NWP and an understanding of their value
Provide input and guidance for THORPEX regional campaigns for the deployment of observations to achieve scientific objectives

3. DAOS Contd. Statement on Impact of Targeted Observations
The DAOS-WG has considered carefully the topic of adaptive observations, and has formulated a summary of the current status of their impact on NWP, as well as recommendations for future research. Comprehensive paper prepared for ICSC 9 and summary for BAMS.
Intercomparison of Observation Impacts
The DAOS-WG promoted an intercomparison experiment to directly compare the impact of all assimilated observations on short-range forecast errors in different forecast systems using the adjoint technique. Despite differences in the assimilation algorithms and forecast models employed, the impacts of the major observation types were found to be similar in each forecast system in a global sense

4. DAOS – contd. ConcordIASI observation impact experiments
ConcordIASI has provided unprecedented data coverage over the Antarctic. Dropsondes were launched out of 13 super-pressure balloons (50 from each balloon), and their impact on forecasts and analyses from several operational centres have been (and continue to be) evaluated.
Adjoint calculations show that the dropsondes have a generally positive impact on the 24-h forecast error norm, both over Antarctica and globally. Assimilation of the gondola data was achieved at a few centres and also was found to be positive, in particular in a data impact study at DWD.
The data have shown there are problems with the models near the surface e.g. they are not cold enough over land. It was proposed that impact experiments using the ConcordIASI data would be carried out at a number of centres and results compared with the aim of improving the assimilation of observations in polar regions.

5. PDP Working Group Field experiments
The three related THORPEX experiments T-PARC, TCS08 and Winter T-PARC were aimed at increasing understanding of how and why
(a) Typhoons form (or do not form) in the West-Pacific TCS-08) (b) Typhoons or ex-Typhoon vortices interact with mid-latitude jet streams (T-PARC) – ET etc.,
and
(c) supplemental targeted observations reduce or fail-to-reduce forecast error (TCS08, T-PARC and Winter T-PARC).
The major findings in the area of dynamical atmospheric processes and the ability of models to predict observed processes and associated recommendations are being written up.

6. PDP WG Contd.
A few key topics have been identified, to which the PDP WG will pay particular attention to during the coming years. Each year, one of these topics will be selected for (co-)organizing a specific workshop (e.g., with WGNE).
 Climatologies of specific weather phenomena (frequency, intensity) – Heini Wernli & members from Africa / China / SHEM
Organized tropical convection (YOTC, T-PARC) – Mitch Moncrieff, Pat Harr & member from Asia
Ensemble-based data assimilation and forecasting, including stochastic parameterizations – Craig Bishop, Istvan Szunyogh, Olivier Talagrand
Atmospheric dynamics and diabatic processes (e.g., T-NAWDEX, HYMEX, Rossby wave dynamics, tropical-extratropical interactions, polar meteorology, role of surface fluxes) – John Methven, Andreas Dörnbrack, Heini Wernli & member from SHEM, polar expert
Sub-seasonal and seasonal prediction (dynamics and physics of coupled systems) – Thomas Jung, Adam Scaife, Ben Kirtman & others
New diagnostic techniques to understand the origin of model errors – Thomas Jung, Andy Brown

7. Workshops
PDP Workshop on “diagnosis of model errors” (Zurich, July, 2010)
The results presented in the workshop showed (i) state-of-the-art models still suffer from substantial errors and (ii) that diagnostic work has the potential to inform model developers about model problems at the process level and therefore provide information necessary to guide model development.
Despite substantial improvements in diagnostic techniques in recent years it is crucial to further support research to advance diagnostic techniques to the point where they become of direct use for model development
Model error diagnosis has been identified as one area where universities and research institution can make substantial contributions to the further development of models, thereby supporting the relatively small community of model developers.

8. PDP Workshop Contd.
It was decided to start joint projects to look more closely at two phenomena:
Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM): The ISM is a large-scale phenomenon which is poorly handled by most models. The monsoon problem is an ideal test case to demonstrate that the use of different diagnostic techniques can provide information that leads to model improvements.
Cyclonic systems (CS): What makes CS an attractive choice is that physics-dynamics interactions are crucial in CS and that CS are a major source of severe weather. Work is required to understand the influence of resolution and the relative importance of different processes for cyclone prediction
Both themes are ideal to link with the climate community and should be investigated both in NWP and climate models

9. Sub-seasonal to seasonal prediction
The Report from the Workshop on “Sub-seasonal to Seasonal Prediction” (Met Office, Exeter 1 to 3 December 2010) has been published to the web (
The major Workshop recommendation was that a Project for sub-seasonal prediction research should be established
Panel members should include representatives from WWRP-THORPEX, WCRP, CBS and CCl and their relevant programme bodies.
The first task for the Panel should be the preparation of an Implementation Plan which is consistent with the contents of the Workshop Report and Recommendations.

10. Sub-seasonal contd.
The Implementation Plan should give high priority to:
Sponsorship of a few international research activities
The establishment of collaboration and co-ordination between operational centres undertaking sub-seasonal prediction to:
ensure, where possible, consistency between operational approaches to enable the production of data bases of operational sub-seasonal predictions to support the application of standard verification procedures and a wide-ranging programme of research
Facilitating the wide-spread research use of the data collected for the CHFP (and its associate projects), TIGGE and YOTC for research
The establishment of a series of regular Workshops on sub-seasonal prediction

11. Sub-seasonal contd.
the WWRP/SERA Working Group and the WCRP should outline plans for a number of regional projects.
It is proposed that a small Planning Group, supported by a WMO consultant, is established to prepare an Implementation Plan for a “Sub-seasonal Prediction Research Project”.

12. Polar Prediction Project
The Report from the Workshop on “Improvement of Weather and Environmental Prediction in Polar Regions” (Met No Oslo, 6 to 8 October 2010) has been published to the web (
The outcome of this workshop was the establishment of a basis for an IPY legacy project which is intended to provide a framework for cooperative international research and development efforts to improve high impact weather, climate, and environment
Three forecast prediction ranges are of interest:
  short-term regional forecasts (one hour to 48 hours)
medium-range forecasts (one day to two weeks)
sub-seasonal to one season forecasts

13. Polar Prediction Contd.,
it was clear from the workshop discussions on “gaps” that many of the problems are common to all prediction systems whatever the range – notably, problems with the parameterization of atmospheric, oceanic, and land-surface physical processes.
Such a legacy project would aid the coordination of current and future polar prediction activities and increase awareness of the need for new resources for polar prediction research
it should be based on a few NWP internationally coordinated polar initiatives (new or existing).
Based on the outcome of the Oslo workshop and the feedback from EC-PORS and potential partners, a Joint Polar Prediction Project, similar to the Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC) project, supported by WWRP, WCRP, and THORPEX should be established

14. Polar Prediction Contd.,
This project will require a Steering Group (consisting of members with scientific and operational expertise and representatives of the user community). The first task for the Steering Group (supported by a WMO consultant) will be the preparation of an Implementation Plan which includes estimates of resources and a strategy for the coordination of polar prediction research.
If the plan is well received by the community, and if the YOTC model is followed, a Project Office should be established at an institution with a major interest in polar prediction.

15. Year of Tropical Convection
YOTC ( is focused on the fundamental problems of understanding mechanisms for and the effects of organized tropical convection, which is vital to improving weather and climate predictions.
YOTC is now established with a small project office at NCAR.
It is a joint initiative between WWRP/THORPEX and WCRP, and was highlighted in a series of papers provided for the WCC-3 and in forthcoming publications in BAMS.
Research spans weather and climate on timescales from diurnal out to seasonal. Close links are maintained with other activities such as the GEWEX (GCSS).
An important legacy of YOTC will be data sets collected from May 2008 to April 2010 (the “year”), which include high resolution analyses and forecasts from ECMWF, NCEP and GMAO and satellite data available through NASA Giovanni.
Year of Tropical Convection  

16. YOTC Contd.,
It is hoped that these datasets will provide a good foundation for improving understanding of convective processes and their representation in weather and climate models
The main YOTC themes are:
the MJO and other convectively coupled waves (a YOTC MJO Task Force has been established) ,
easterly waves and tropical cyclones,
seamless prediction and hierarchical modelling,
Tropical / extra-tropical interaction,
and
monsoon intra-seasonal variability and AMY.

17. YOTC Contd., First YOTC International Science Symposium
The first WCRP-WWRP/THORPEX International Science Symposium for the Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC) was held in Beijing from May 2011.
The meeting format included theme-based sessions spanning the YOTC science focus areas, with 20 invited talks, 5 poster sessions (with over 80 posters) and 5 plenary discussion sessions. Additional details regarding the Symposium, including the agenda and presentations can be found on the YOTC website

18. THORPEX Regional Committees
Europe
Revised European Plan published on the THORPEX website during 2010
Highly successful Workshop held at Karlsruhe, Germany from May 2011
The aim of this meeting was to review progress in European THORPEX research, to strengthen existing collaborations and initiate new collaborations within the European THORPEX community, to identify further necessary revisions to the THORPEX European Plan and to discuss European involvement within new THORPEX initiatives. Themes:
PDP 
DAOS 
SERA 
TIGGE
Field Programs (e.g. IPY Cluster, T-NAWDEX, Concordiasi, HYMEX) ,

19. African Regional Committee
Important presentation made to the RA I meeting held in Marrakech during Nov – to help engage support from African PRs
Progress being made with the implementation of the high impact weather information system for Africa – to facilitate research of chosen important case studies and associated SERA studies.
Main constraint to progress is lack of resources
Meeting planned for July 2011 to review progress and agree future strategy

20. Regional Committees Contd.,
Asia
The 7th meeting of the Asian Regional Committee was hosted during June 2010 in Jeju Island, Korea and followed the 3rd Asian THORPEX Science Symposium.
The Third Asian THORPEX Science Symposium was held in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 2 to 4 June There were five sessions in the meeting:
(1) Opening and Invited talk
(2) Overview of THORPEX related activities
(3) Predictability, Observation system experiments, Observation field campaigns
(4) Ensembles, TIGGE, Data assimilation
(5) Dynamic processes and mechanisms, Applications
There were 30 oral presentations and 10 posters.
About 70 researchers attended the meeting and the participants came from Japan, Korea, Russia, France and China.

21. Regional Committees Contd.,
The ARC meeting included,
Updates on national activities in Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
Formation of 2 WGs to focus on GIFS-TIGGE and NWP activities.
Agreement to hold an Asian THORPEX Science Symposium about every 2 years.
North America
NARC meeting held during May 2010 in Morelos, Mexico.
Covered the many contributions to field experiments, TIGGE, SERA studies etc.,

22. Regional Committees Contd.,
Southern Hemisphere
and THORPEX website
Science and Implementation Plans can be downloaded
Benefits of THORPEX in terms of scientific interaction and collaboration amongst SH scientists continue
But even with a relatively modest plan progress is slow
Need to leverage opportunities for THORPEX-related activities, including components in projects such as SWFDP, and collaboration in the context of funded research
Enhance links with overall WGs.

23. Recent developments
Retirement of David Burridge – Tetsuo Nakazawa becomes IPO manager
Trust Fund remains significantly undersubscribed.