Memorandum of Understanding
For the implementation of a European Concerted Research action as
COST 717
USE OF RADAR OBSERVATIONS IN HYDROLOGICAL
AND NWP MODELS
The Signatories to this Memorandum of Understanding declaring their common intention to
participate in the concerted Action referred to above and described in the Technical Annex to
the Memorandum, have reached the following understanding:
1.
The Action will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the document COST
400/94, Rules and Procedures for Implementing COST Actions, the contents of which
are fully known to the Signatories.
2.
The main objective of the Action is the assessment, demonstration and documentation
of the contribution that advanced radar information such as radial Doppler winds,
vertical wind profiles, rainfall and reflectivity can make to parametrization and in model
assimilation schemes for Numerical Weather Prediction and hydrological models.
3.
The overall cost of the activities carried out under the Action has been estimated on the
basis of information available during the planning of the Action, at 25 MECU in 1997
prices, for the period 1998 to 2003 inclusive.
4.
The Memorandum of Understanding will take effect on being signed by at least seven
Signatories.
5.
The Memorandum of Understanding will remain in force for a period of five years.
Technical Annex to the MOU for
USE OF RADAR OBSERVATIONS IN HYDROLOGICAL
AND NWP MODELS
1.
Background
The European Doppler radar networks now provides a unique basis for use of radar
information. Many countries have begun to investigate the use of radar data in Numerical
Weather Prediction (NWP) and fluvial flow forecasting models, but few have developed an
operational capability. However, the benefits of radar data are clearly recognised by the NWP
and hydrological modelling communities in the fields of:
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model validation;
physical parametrisation development;
data assimilation;
forecast verification;
initialisation of antecedent conditions;
Techniques are being developed in many of these areas and promise improvements to a
number of applications, notably: validation of high resolution cloud models, the
parametrisation of convective processes, four-dimensional variational analysis (4DVAR) and
examination of the impact of the error characteristics of radar-derived precipitation
information on the output from hydrological models. Moreover, improvements in flood
forecasting can be anticipated from assimilation of radar data within NWP models whose
output is used to drive operational hydrological models.
Before large scale effort is committed to using radar data in modelling studies, there is a need
to assess the benefits of such methods, and their relative strengths and weaknesses. This
requires the experience and information that exists across many countries within Europe. The
COST forum offers the ideal approach to bring these groups together.
2.
Objectives and Deliverables of the Project
The main objectives of the proposed project may be summarised as follows:
2.1
investigate how radar data can be mostly effectively utilised in model assimilation
schemes and in combination with other observations;
2.2
identify the requirements from NWP assimilation for quality control and international
transmission of radar data in line with the developments under EUMETNETS’s
OPERA project;
2.3
identify and demonstrate the potential contribution that radar-based observation
techniques can make to the development of physical parametrisations for NWP
models, in particular for representing convective processes, and identify examples of
studies undertaken to date;
2.4
examine and define the requirements on European radar data for use in hydrological
models, for river flow in rural and urban catchments, and for the real-time control of
urban drainage systems;
2.5
provide standardised European methods and algorithms for validating model
performance against observations from radar networks and other sources for ‘ground
truth’;
2.6
document the improvements (both established and potential) to modelling by the use
of radar information as vertical wind profiles, radial Doppler winds, rainfall and
reflectivity;
2.7
recommend algorithms for quality control of radar data and on-line error estimation.
3.
Scientific Content of the Project
The Signatories intend, on the basis of the present state of development of observational
systems, NWP and hydrological modelling in their countries, to investigate, collate available
results and, where possible, carry out research and development work to establish operational
benefits and recommendations on the topics of interest in this project. These topics will cover
the following areas.
3.1
Using radar information in hydrological modelling
3.1.1 Review current use of radar data in hydrological models;
3.1.2 identify the error characteristics of different radar measurements at a range of scales
(temporal and spatial) and examine how these impact on hydrological models;
3.1.3 provide a list of requirements for radar data in differing hydrological models for rural
and urban catchments, and for urban drainage models;
3.1.4 evaluate the use of radar data and calibration techniques in hydrological models to
provide quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) information for hydrological models, over
and above that provided by raingauge networks;
3.1.5 investigate how radar measurements of precipitation type can improve precipitation
rate estimation for input to hydrological models;
3.1.6 examine how radar observations can provide a better means of coupling atmosphere
and surface models;
3.1.7 establish a requirement for radar developments needed for future distributed
hydrological models and urban drainage models;
3.2.
Using radar observations for parametrization and validation of atmospheric
models
3.2.1 Identify how the advanced radar measurements reviewed under COST 75 can be used
to improve parametrizations in NWP and climate models and to validate cloud
resolving models;
3.2.2 define measurement requirements for use in parametrization of convective and
stratiform systems;
3.2.3 establish a European standard for archiving of radar data including a quality index and
supporting observations for use in model validation studies. Collate a list of interesting
cases. Establish an internet based European radar archive for modeling studies through
OPERA, with a diary of key meteorological events.
3.3
Using radar information in atmospheric models
3.3.1 Review current methods for assimilating radar data;
3.3.2 identify the error characteristics of various radar measurements at a range of scales
(temporal and spatial) and examine how these impact on assimilation schemes;
3.3.3 provide a list of requirements for radar data in NWP models, and investigate the need
for development of models to process radar data before input to NWP;
3.3.4 assess the impact of introducing radar (precipitation or reflectivity) data more directly
into models, for example via 4D-variational techniques, rather than through moisture
fields or by latent heat nudging schemes;
3.3.5 examine the relative merits of using Velocity Azimuth Display and Doppler radial
velocities in NWP models and the possible use of spectral width information in
conjunction with windprofiler information from COST 76;
3.3.6 identify the benefits for assimilation of international exchange of single site radar data
over and above those gained from using a National composite;
3.3.7 compare different approaches to verification of NWP precipitation forecasts using
radar data and other 'ground truth' data sources, with a view to recommending
standardised methods within Europe.
4.
Timetable and Interaction with other Projects
The project will last for five years. It will build on existing work in several countries and the
activities under the Fourth Framework (and proposed Fifth Framework) Programme. The
project will build directly on work from COST-73 (European radar networking) and COST-75
(advanced radar systems). It will exploit expertise developed in COST-76 (wind profilers),
COST-78 (nowcasting) and COST-712 (microwave radiometers). The project will interact
with OPERA, and benefit particularly from progress with improvements in radar site data
availability and products.
Work undertaken will provide added information and benefits to integrated observations, and
for the use of other remotely-sensed information in modelling activities.
Tasks within the sciences programme will be undertaken in parallel and organised into
separate working groups. An Annual Report will be produced for the COST Senior Officials
and the Technical Committee for Meteorology.
5.
Organisation, Management and Responsibilities
A Management Committee will be set up following signing by the appropriate number of
signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding with no more than two nominated delegates
from each participating country. A Chairperson, a Technical and Scientific Secretary and the
working group chairmen will be elected and together entrusted with drafting an outline project
plan based upon the items in Section 3. The plan will be approved by the Committee and
submitted in the Technical Committee for Meteorology to be approved.
For the work to proceed in parallel, it is suggested that three Working Groups be established
with their own chairperson to report to the Management Committee.
WORKING GROUP 1
WORKING GROUP 2
WORKING GROUP 3
Using radar information
in hydrological models
Using radar observations
in parametrisation
and validation of
atmospheric models
Using radar information
for assimilation
in atmospheric models
All Working Groups must include radar expertise and will contain representatives from
National Meteorological (and Hydrological) Services, Research Organisations and interested
Private Sector Organisations.
The MC will meet in plenary session and delegates will also meet in working groups. These
working groups will provide a report based on collated information and short studies
undertaken at national level. Each working group will hold a dedicated workshop over the
duration of the action. Working groups will run in parallel with each other and be held
immediately before the management committee meeting. Each working group chair will
report progress against WG targets in plenary session to the MC. This will further facilitate
interaction between working groups and national delegates.
The Committee will report formally to the Technical Committee on an annual basis, but will
also provide verbal or written information on each meeting that will be held quarterly. It is
anticipated that each Working Group will hold a workshop in the duration of the project, and
that an international seminar will be held towards the end of the project time-scale. The Final
Report of the project will be based on a series of technical reports written throughout the
project by working group members on the topics being considered.
6.
Dissemination of Scientific Results
All publications arising from research carried out under this COST Action will credit COST
support, and the Management Committee will encourage and promote all co-authored papers.
Results of research carried out by working groups under this COST Action will be submitted
to international journals and reviews.
Joint meetings among different working groups in the COST Action and with relevant
working groups from other COST Actions will be organised in such a way as to best promote
interdisciplinary communication.
The Management Committee of this COST Action will, in conjunction with the different
working groups of the Action, meet every year with the main aim of presenting results to the
Management Committee as a whole and, where possible, invite potential users and interested
parties to this meeting.
The Management Committee will, during the first year of the Action, also set up a workplan
for interdisciplinary events for the dissemination of results of the Action.
7.
Economic Dimension of the Project
It is estimated that each country would allocate up to five years of the effort of the project over
its duration. Assuming the involvement of 12 countries, the Project's total value of activities
would be in the region of ECU 25 million, including overheads.
Contributions to the MOU
The MOU and especially the Technical Annex has been discussed, formulated and accepted in
draft by the Management Committee of COST 75 - Advanced Weather Radar Systems.
Special contributions further are from
Prof. Keith Beven, University Lancaster
Dr. Sylvain Joffre, Finnish Met Inst. and TC Meteorology
Dr. Tom Keane, Met Eireann and TC Meteorology
Dr. Bruce Macpherson, UK Met Office
Dr. Mathieu Nuret, METEO France
Dr. David Pick, UK Met Office and TC Meteorology
Prof. Juhanni Rinne, Finnish Met Inst.
Prof. Werner Wergen, Deutscher Wetterdienst
Thanks are due to all of them.
P. Meischner