An Introduction to Numerical Weather Prediction Techniques

An Introduction to Numerical Weather Prediction Techniques is unique in the meteorological field as it presents for the first time theories and software of complex dynamical and physical processes required for numerical modeling. It was first prepared as a manual for the training of the World Meteorological Organization's programs at a similar level. This new book updates these exercises and also includes the latest data sets. This book covers important aspects of numerical weather prediction techniques required at an introductory level. These techniques, ranging from simple one-dimensional space derivative to complex numerical models, are first described in theory and for most cases supported by fully tested computational software. The text discusses the fundamental physical parameterizations needed in numerical weather models, such as cumulus convection, radiative transfers, and surface energy fluxes calculations. The book gives the user all the necessary elements to build a numerical model. An Introduction to Numerical Weather Prediction Techniques is rich in illustrations, especially tables showing outputs from each individual algorithm presented. Selected figures using actual meteorological data are also used. This book is primarily intended for senior-level undergraduates and first-year graduate students in meteorology. It is also excellent for individual scientists who wish to use the book for self-study. Scientists dealing with geophysical data analysis or predictive models will find this book filled with useful techniques and data-processing algorithms.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Finite Differences Finite Difference Formulation First Derivative Second Derivative The Laplacian Operator The Jacobian Operator Time Differencing Calculation of Vertical Motion Vertical Velocity from Irregularly Spaced Wind Data Vertical Velocity from Regularly Spaced Wind Data Vertical Velocity from the Quasi-Geostrophic Omega Equation Multilevel Non-Linear Balance Omega Equation Numerical Algorithms Estimation of Streamfunctions, Velocity Potential, and Geopotential Height from the Wind Field Relaxation Method Fourier Transform Method Geopotential Height from the Wind Field Objective Analysis Panofsky's Method, Polynomial Approach Cressman's Method, Successive Corrections Technique Barnes' Objective Analysis Scheme Optimum Interpolation Technique Basic Physical Concepts Conversion of Moisture Variables Determination of the Lifting Condensation Level (LCL) Moist Adiabatic Profile Convective Adjustment A Simple Cloud Model Cumulus Convection and Large Scale Condensation Cumulus Convection Arakawa-Schubert Cumulus Parameterization Scheme Large Scale Condensation Planetary Boundary Layer Bulk Aerodynamic Calculation over Ocean and Land Roughness Parameter Surface Fluxes from Similarity Theory Height of the Boundary Layer in an Unstable Situation Height of the Boundary Layer in a Stable Situation Vertical Distribution of Fluxes Radiative Transfers Longwave Radiation Shortwave Radiation Cloud Specification Radiative Heat Balance at the Earth's Surface The Code The Barotropic Model Dynamics of the Barotropic Model Properties of Barotropic Flow Barotropic Energy Exchange Model Structure and Boundary Conditions Treatment of the Advective Terms and Time Differencing Scheme Initial Conditions Description of the Code The Single Level Primitive Equations Model Dynamic of the Single Level Primitive Equations Model Properties of the Single Level Primitive Equations Model Model Structure and Boundary Conditions Treatment of the Advective Terms and Time Differencing Scheme Computation of the Forcing Functions Initialization of the Single Level Primitive Equations Model Data Sets for Numerical Weather Prediction Rainfall Distribution from Outgoing Longwave Radiation SSM/I Based Rain Rates, Wind Speed, and Total Precipitable Water Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Fractional Cloud Cover Model Output Diagnostics Energy and Energy Transformation Terms On the Computation of the 4-Dimensional Trajectories References List of Subroutines Index