Zou and Tian Develop a 4D-Var Vortex Initialization System

ESSIC/CISESS Research Professor Xiaolei Zou and Post-doctoral Associate Xiaoxu Tian recently published an article in Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography titled, “A comprehensive 4D-Var vortex initialization using a nonhydrostatic axisymmetric TC model with convection accounted for”.

The article discusses the development of a four-dimensional variational (4D-Var) vortex initialization system meant to measure different variables of severe weather events, including temperature, water vapour mixing ratio, liquid water content mixing ratio, tangential and radial wind components, and vertical velocity.  The researchers found that the 4D-Var vortex initialization system obtained improved forecasts of these variables and intensifications in the cases of Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut.

A Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, Zou has research interests in atmospheric data assimilation, hurricanes, and climate changes.   Her research has expanded over the past five years to include satellite data calibration, as well as validation and assimilation for both numerical weather prediction (NWP) and climate trend study.

To read their paper, click here: “A comprehensive 4D-Var vortex initialization using a nonhydrostatic axisymmetric TC model with convection accounted for”.