On the proper use of screen-level temperature measurements in weather forecasting models over mountains

Préaux, Danaé; Dombrowski-Etchevers, Ingrid; Gouttevin, Isabelle; Seity, Yann

doi:10.5194/gmd-18-8723-2025

Articles | Volume 18, issue 22

https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8723-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8723-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 18, issue 22

Methods for assessment of models

|

20 Nov 2025

Methods for assessment of models |

| 20 Nov 2025

On the proper use of screen-level temperature measurements in weather forecasting models over mountains

Danaé Préaux, Ingrid Dombrowski-Etchevers, Isabelle Gouttevin, and Yann Seity

Data sets

Codes and dataset of numerical assimilation experiments Danaé Préaux https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16570743

Col du Lac Blanc: additional data GLACIOCLIM-CLB https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14989735

Col de Porte: a meterological and snow observatory GLACIOCLIM\_CDP https://doi.osug.fr/public/CRYOBSCLIM_CDP/

Col du Lac Blanc: a meteorological and blowing snow observatory GLACIOCLIM-CLB https://doi.osug.fr/public/CRYOBSCLIM_CLB/

Model code and software

Codes and dataset of numerical assimilation experiments Danaé Préaux https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16570743

Short summary

Air temperature is usually measured around 2 m above the ground following meteorological standards. However, in mountain regions, temperature sensors are often placed higher up to avoid being buried in snow in winter. We show that the measurement height is of high importance when quantifying the errors made by weather prediction models. Also, it should be accounted for when these observations are used to correct the models in real time, as doing otherwise degrades their forecasts at high altitudes.