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In this work, long-term trends in convective parameters are compared between ERA5, MERRA2, and observed rawinsonde profiles over Europe and the United States including surrounding areas. A 39-year record (1980–2018) with 2.07 million quality-controlled measurements from 84 stations at 0000 and 1200 UTC is used for the comparison, along with collocated reanalysis profiles. Overall, reanalyses provide similar signals to observations, but ERA5 features lower biases. Over Europe, agreement in the trend signal between rawinsondes and the reanalyses is better, particularly with respect to instability (lifted index), low-level moisture (mixing ratio) and 0–3 km lapse rates as compared to mixed trends in the United States. However, consistent signals for all three datasets and both domains are found for robust increases in convective inhibition (CIN), downdraft CAPE (DCAPE) and decreases in mean 0–4 km relative humidity. Despite differing trends between continents, the reanalyses capture well changes in 0–6 km wind shear and 1–3 km mean wind with modest increases in the United States and decreases in Europe. However, these changes are mostly insignificant. All datasets indicate consistent warming of almost the entire tropospheric profile, which over Europe is the fastest near-ground, while across the Great Plains generally between 2–3 km above ground level, thus contributing to increases in CIN. Results of this work show the importance of intercomparing trends between various datasets, as the limitations associated with one reanalysis or observations may lead to uncertainties and lower our confidence in how parameters are changing over time.
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Comparison of convective parameters derived from ERA5 and MERRA2 with rawinsonde data over Europe and North America
Abstract In this study we compared 3.7 mln rawinsonde observations from 232 stations over Europe and North America with proximal vertical profiles from ERA5 and MERRA2 to examine how well reanalysis depicts observed convective parameters. Larger differences between soundings and reanalysis are found for thermodynamic theoretical parcel parameters, low-level lapse rates and low-level wind shear. In contrast, reanalysis best represents temperature and moisture variables, mid-tropospheric lapse rates, and mean wind. Both reanalyses underestimate CAPE, low-level moisture and wind shear, particularly when considering extreme values. Overestimation is observed for low-level lapse rates, mid-tropospheric moisture and the level of free convection. Mixed-layer parcels have overall better accuracy when compared to most-unstable, especially considering convective inhibition and lifted condensation level. Mean absolute error for both reanalyses has been steadily decreasing over the last 39 years for almost every analyzed variable. Compared to MERRA2, ERA5 has higher correlations and lower mean absolute errors. MERRA2 is typically drier and less unstable over central Europe and the Balkans, with the opposite pattern over western Russia. Both reanalyses underestimate CAPE and CIN over the Great Plains. Reanalyses are more reliable for lower elevations stations and struggle along boundaries such as coastal zones and mountains. Based on the results from this and prior studies we suggest that ERA5 is likely one of the most reliable available reanalysis for exploration of convective environments, mainly due to its improved resolution. For future studies we also recommend that computation of convective variables should use model levels that provide more accurate sampling of the boundary-layer conditions compared to less numerous pressure levels.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1945286
- PAR ID:
- 10227081
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Climate
- ISSN:
- 0894-8755
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 55
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0484.1
