An Assessment of the NCEP Operational Global Spectral Model Forecasts and Analyses for Antarctica during FROST

Abstract

Analyses and medium-range numerical weather forecasts produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction are evaluated poleward of 50°S during the July 1994 special observing period of the Antarctic First Regional Observing Study of the Troposphere project. Over the Antarctic plateau, the poor representation of the continent?s terrain creates ambiguity in assessing the quality of surface variables. An examination of the vertical temperature profile, however, finds the near-surface temperature inversion strength to be substantially smaller than the observed climatology at the zero forecast hour. This arises from surface temperatures that are warmer than expected. Significant adjustment occurs in a variety of fields over the first few days of the medium-range forecast, which likely results from the initial hour?s suspect temperature profile. A spatially oscillating series of forecast anomalies in the zonally averaged temperature cross section stretches to middle latitudes by day 3. Near-surface and upper-troposphere values are found actually to improve at the South Pole with forecast time, although some fields continue to adjust through day 7. Although the examination presented here does not give a complete diagnosis, differences between observations and analyses suggest deficiencies with the model initial fields have a major role in producing the substantial model drift found. Atmospheric moisture over the continental interior does not change significantly with forecast hour, although the distinct contrast between nearshore and interior conditions lessens with forecast time. A spurious high-latitude wave pattern is found for a variety of variables. The pattern of this distortion remains constant with forecast hour. Over the ocean, large forecast pressure and height differences with analyses are associated with blocking conditions. However, it is unclear whether this results from deficiencies in the forecast model or the meager observational network over the Southern Ocean.