NWP QUESTIONS version 2:



NWP QUESTIONS version 2:

These questions relate to information in the assigned NWP COMET modules. Some questions create notes that help you pass the quizzes. Where it says ‘T/F’ it is sufficient to indicate true or false. Where it says ‘list’ several unambiguous fully correct phrases are OK. In other cases a full sentence is required.

I. Model Fundamentals

A. What limits the amount and type of data that can be used by an NWP model?

B. What processes and properties are typically parameterized in NWP models? (list)

C. The largest impact of using parameterization schemes is usually on what?

D. The data assimilation system of an NWP model does what? (list)

E. How long did it take you to complete this module?

II. Data Assimilation Systems

A. In what situations is the Data Assimilation system most likely to fail?

B. A model may produce a better forecast if its analysis does not fit an accurate observation too closely because of what reasons?

C. Can data voids in an observing network can cause a model analysis to retain incorrectly predicted small-scale features? (T/F)

D. Why is it useful to use the first guess (short-range forecast) as the starting point in a data assimilation system? (list)

E. Data Analysis Exercises (Answer the following questions found in the ‘exercises’ section of the data assimilation module. Type your answers on a separate sheet. Note: type out full answers, not ‘choice b)’ from the given choices.)

1. The DA cycle

2. Data Voids

6. Using the First Guess

F. How long did it take you to complete this module?

III. Model Structure and Dynamics

A. Questions (Answer the following questions found in the ‘Questions’ section of the Model Structure and Dynamics module. Type your answers on a separate sheet. Note: type out full answers, not ‘choice b)’ from the given choices.)

1. Question 1

3. Question 3

5. Question 5

B. What are disadvantages of using a sigma vertical coordinate or a hybrid coordinate which has sigma coordinates at the bottom of the model? (list)

C. A model forecast of diurnal boundary layer evolution over flat terrain near a water body can be strongly affected by what? (list)

D. What minimum number of grid points should the size of a meteorological feature span in order to be adequately forecast in a gridpoint model?

E. List at least 3 phenomena/features where a hydrostatic model can make a good prediction and list at least 2 where the phenomena/features require a nonhydrostatic model for good prediction

F. How long did it take you to complete this module?

IV. Model Production of Precipitation and Clouds

A. Answer the following questions found in the ‘exercises’ section of the “How models produce precipitation and clouds” module. Type your answers on a separate sheet. Note: type out full answers, not ‘choice b)’ from the given choices.)

1. CP characteristics

2. Why schemes perform differently

B. The primary purpose of Convective Parameterization (CP) in NWP models is to simulate what?

C. If the convective parameterization scheme does not remove enough instability, what effect(s) might result in the model forecast? (list)

D. After individually examining the total and convective precipitation fields from an operational forecast model, you suspect that its convective parameterization scheme has been overactive in a convective system that may affect your area of forecast responsibility. What effect might this have on duration of convective precipitation, instability, environmental moisture, and cloudiness? (list for those 4 items)

E. How long did it take you to complete this module?

V. Model Physics

A. Temperature tendency equation question parts a) and b) What are the actual numeric answers?

B. Exercise: Relative importance of Physics versus Dynamics. Type each item (a-h) with the correct answer.

C. What parameters are affected by the vegetation fraction (the portion of the grid box covered by live vegetation)? (list)

D. If the albedo in the forecast model is too high, what corrections might you need to make to the model forecast parameters during the daytime? (list)

E. Of the impacts of soil type on model forecasts, which is usually the one most important to the near-surface operational forecast?

F. In NWP models, land/water surface parameterizations simulate the interaction of the surface with incoming radiation to produce heat, moisture, and momentum exchanges between the surface and atmosphere. What elements of the NWP forecast need to be considered to assess the impacts of these surface/atmosphere exchanges on the forecast? (list)

G. The largest errors in shortwave and longwave radiation calculations result from errors in predicting or diagnosing the presence of [model RH; model clouds; solar radiation]. Large errors can also result from model deficiencies in parameterizing the relationship of the model [radiation; heat; RH] to the amount of model cloudiness. These simplifying assumptions contribute to errors in atmospheric [heat; radiation; solar radiation] transfer. (multiple choice)

H. How long did it take you to complete this module?

VI. Model-derived Products

A. Answer the 4 parts of the post-processing summary question. (T/F)

B. Answer all 6 questions under statistical guidance: (In each case with a full sentence, and no acronym).

C. Of what limitations of MOS guidance should a forecaster be aware? (list)

D. What parameters are forecast directly by the model (versus those derived by model assumptions and formulae)?

E. What is the order of the 3 processing steps (vertical, horizontal, point data)? (list first to last)

F. What are the two significant sources of errors limiting the use of point observations?

G. How long did it take you to complete this module?

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