Quantification of the Effects of Data Denial and Limitation in MM5 Initialization on Forecast Accuracy (Paperback or Softback)

Denied and limited model input data degrade the accuracy of numerical weather prediction (NWP) model forecasts. Inaccurate forecasts can negatively impact all military operations and public safety in general. Using the 3-Dimensional Variational Analysis data assimilation scheme and the Pennsylvania State University (PSU)/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) as configured and run operationally by the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) in the European theater, input observations were denied in three different categories: total, upper air, and surface observation denial. Two control groups were run using all available data as received by AFWA. The main control group used a 6-hour old first guess as a baseline. The data denied test cases and the secondary control group used a 30-hour old first guess because it was not possible to deny data from the first guess. The secondary control group was used to estimate errors resulting from the use of different first guess forecasts between the main control group and the test cases for all forecast times. The analyses show statistically significant differences between the main control group and test cases in almost every instance.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.