Using Shortwave Radiation to Evaluate the HARMONIE-AROME Weather Model

Evaluation of global shortwave irradiance forecasts from the HARMONIE-AROME weather prediction model is presented in this paper. We give examples of how such an evaluation can be used when testing a weather model or reanalysis product. We specifically use the non-dimensional clear sky and variabilit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kristian Pagh Nielsen, Emily Gleeson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-04-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/5/163
Description
Summary:Evaluation of global shortwave irradiance forecasts from the HARMONIE-AROME weather prediction model is presented in this paper. We give examples of how such an evaluation can be used when testing a weather model or reanalysis product. We specifically use the non-dimensional clear sky and variability indices. We have tested seven months of HARMONIE-AROME 40h1.1 output against Danish global irradiance stations and 35 years of the Irish Met Éireann reanalysis (MÉRA) simulations. MÉRA, which is run with HARMONIE-AROME 38h1.2, is shown to have a significantly lower bias than the previously available global horizontal irradiance (GHI) reanalysis data from the ERA-Interim dataset. The Danish HARMONIE-AROME 40h1.1 has a negative bias during the summer months that is not seen in the Irish HARMONIE-AROME 38h1.2. For both model runs, we find a negative bias in the shortwave irradiance forecasts on days with thick clouds. This suggest that the model has too much cloud water in thick clouds.
ISSN:2073-4433