Open AccessPotential of shipborne GPS atmospheric delay data for prediction of Mediterranean intense weather events
Author(s) -
Boniface K.,
Champollion C.,
Chery J.,
Ducrocq V.,
Rocken C.,
Doerflinger E.,
Collard P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl.391
Subject(s) - mesoscale meteorology , numerical weather prediction , environmental science , climatology , meteorology , precipitation , global positioning system , mediterranean climate , weather prediction , geography , geology , computer science , telecommunications , archaeology
High spatial and temporal variability of mesoscale moisture fields is still a challenge for quantitative precipitation forecast within numerical weather prediction (NWP) models especially over ocean regions where observations are lacking. This study presents the comparison between integrated water vapor over the Mediterranean Sea determined from shipborne GPS, the NWP ALADIN/Météo‐France model and MODIS retrieval during a 4‐month campaign (autumn 2008). While moisture prediction of the NWP remains accurate during most of the observation period, there are significant periods with offsets between GPS data and model predictions. We analyze such events and discuss the associated meteorological situation. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society