Articles | Volume 7, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-1661-2014
© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-1661-2014
© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Decoupling the effects of clear atmosphere and clouds to simplify calculations of the broadband solar irradiance at ground level
A. Oumbe
MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, O.I.E. – Centre Observation, Impacts, Energy – Sophia Antipolis, France
now at: Total New Energies, R&D – Solar, Paris la Défense, France
Z. Qu
MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, O.I.E. – Centre Observation, Impacts, Energy – Sophia Antipolis, France
MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, O.I.E. – Centre Observation, Impacts, Energy – Sophia Antipolis, France
M. Lefèvre
MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, O.I.E. – Centre Observation, Impacts, Energy – Sophia Antipolis, France
MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, O.I.E. – Centre Observation, Impacts, Energy – Sophia Antipolis, France
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, IPSL/CNRS, UMR 8539, Ecole Polytechnique, France
now at: Reuniwatt, Sainte-Clotilde, Réunion, France
Related authors
No articles found.
William Wandji Nyamsi, Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan, Antti Arola, and Lucien Wald
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2001–2036, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2001-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2001-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The McClear service provides estimates of surface solar irradiances in cloud-free conditions. By comparing McClear estimates to 1 min measurements performed in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Maldives Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, McClear accurately estimates global irradiance and tends to overestimate direct irrradiance. This work establishes a general overview of the performance of the McClear service.
Hadrien Verbois, Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan, Vadim Becquet, Benoit Gschwind, and Philippe Blanc
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-243, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-243, 2023
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
Short summary
Short summary
Solar Surface Irradiance (SSI) estimations inferred from satellite images are essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the solar resource, crucial in many fields. This study examines the recent data-driven methods for inferring SSI from satellite images and explores their strengths and weaknesses. The results suggest that while these methods show great promise, they sometimes dramatically underperform, and should probably be used in conjunction with physical approaches.
Benoît Tournadre, Benoît Gschwind, Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan, Xuemei Chen, Rodrigo Amaro E Silva, and Philippe Blanc
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 3683–3704, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3683-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3683-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Solar radiation received by the Earth's surface is valuable information for various fields like the photovoltaic industry or climate research. Pictures taken from satellites can be used to estimate the solar radiation from cloud reflectivity. Two issues for a good estimation are different instrumentations and orbits. We modify a widely used method that is today only used on geostationary satellites, so it can be applied on instruments on different orbits and with different sensitivities.
Mathilde Marchand, Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan, Laurent Saboret, Etienne Wey, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 17, 143–152, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-17-143-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-17-143-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The present work deals with the spatial consistency of two well-known databases of solar radiation received at ground level: the CAMS Radiation Service database version 3.2, abbreviated as CAMS-Rad and the HelioClim-3 database version 5, abbreviated as HC3v5. Both databases are derived from satellite images. For both databases, there is no noticeable spatial trend in the standard deviation.
Claire Thomas, Stephen Dorling, William Wandji Nyamsi, Lucien Wald, Stéphane Rubino, Laurent Saboret, Mélodie Trolliet, and Etienne Wey
Adv. Sci. Res., 16, 229–240, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-16-229-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-16-229-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Solar radiation is the second main important factors for plant growth after temperature. More precisely, PAR, which stands for Photosynthetically Active Radiation, is the portion of the solar spectrum that is efficient for photosynthesis. Due to the scarcity of ground measurements, researchers have developed methods to estimate this variable from satellite imagery. This paper compares several methods to assess satellite-derived PAR against measurements in the UK and in France.
Frederik Kurzrock, Hannah Nguyen, Jerome Sauer, Fabrice Chane Ming, Sylvain Cros, William L. Smith Jr., Patrick Minnis, Rabindra Palikonda, Thomas A. Jones, Caroline Lallemand, Laurent Linguet, and Gilles Lajoie
Geosci. Model Dev., 12, 3939–3954, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-3939-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-12-3939-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study assesses the assimilation of cloud water path retrievals in three phases (ice, supercooled, and liquid), derived from Meteosat-8, into a limited-area model using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). The ability of the method to improve cloud analyses in the southwest Indian Ocean and short-term forecasts of global horizontal irradiance on Réunion Island is demonstrated using the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model.
Mathilde Marchand, Mireille Lefèvre, Laurent Saboret, Etienne Wey, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 16, 103–111, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-16-103-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-16-103-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The present work deals with two well-known databases of hourly mean of solar irradiance that are derived from satellite imagery. The spatial consistency of the uncertainties of these databases is verified against measurements performed within a dense network of ground stations in The Netherlands from the Royal Meteorological Institute KNMI for the period 2014–2017.
The obtained results are presented for both databases. And a discussion is proposed.
Maxence Descheemaecker, Matthieu Plu, Virginie Marécal, Marine Claeyman, Francis Olivier, Youva Aoun, Philippe Blanc, Lucien Wald, Jonathan Guth, Bojan Sič, Jérôme Vidot, Andrea Piacentini, and Béatrice Josse
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 1251–1275, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-1251-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-1251-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The future Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) on board MeteoSat Third Generation is expected to improve the detection and the quantification of aerosols. The study assesses the potential of FCI/VIS04 channel for monitoring air pollution in Europe. An observing system simulation experiment in MOCAGE is developed, and they show a large positive impact of the assimilation over a 4-month period and particularly during a severe pollution episode. The added value of geostationary data is also assessed.
Mélodie Trolliet, Jakub P. Walawender, Bernard Bourlès, Alexandre Boilley, Jörg Trentmann, Philippe Blanc, Mireille Lefèvre, and Lucien Wald
Ocean Sci., 14, 1021–1056, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-1021-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-1021-2018, 2018
Alberto Troccoli, Clare Goodess, Phil Jones, Lesley Penny, Steve Dorling, Colin Harpham, Laurent Dubus, Sylvie Parey, Sandra Claudel, Duc-Huy Khong, Philip E. Bett, Hazel Thornton, Thierry Ranchin, Lucien Wald, Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan, Matteo De Felice, David Brayshaw, Emma Suckling, Barbara Percy, and Jon Blower
Adv. Sci. Res., 15, 191–205, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-191-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-191-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The European Climatic Energy Mixes, an EU Copernicus Climate Change Service project, has produced, in close collaboration with prospective users, a proof-of-concept climate service, or Demonstrator, designed to enable the energy industry assess how well different energy supply mixes in Europe will meet demand, over different time horizons (from seasonal to long-term decadal planning), focusing on the role climate has on the mixes. Its concept, methodology and some results are presented here.
Mélodie Trolliet and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 15, 127–136, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-127-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-127-2018, 2018
Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan, Lucien Wald, Thierry Ranchin, Laurent Dubus, and Alberto Troccoli
Adv. Sci. Res., 15, 51–62, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-51-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-51-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Our approach allows estimating the total photovoltaic (PV) power generation in different European countries from meteorological data. It is aimed at being easy to implement since it does not require any plant information or prior knowledge on the installed PV plants.
Marie Opálková, Martin Navrátil, Vladimír Špunda, Philippe Blanc, and Lucien Wald
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 10, 837–846, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-837-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-837-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Files with irradiances of a few spectral regions of incident solar radiation and some meteorological variables including concentrations of some air pollutants measured for 2.5 years at 3 stations in Ostrava (CZ) were prepared. Special attention was given to the data quality and the process of quality check was described. This database offers an ensemble of data with high temporal resolution and creates a source on radiation in relation with environment and vegetation in polluted areas of cities.
Mathilde Marchand, Abdellatif Ghennioui, Etienne Wey, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 15, 21–29, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-21-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-21-2018, 2018
Pascal Kuhn, Stefan Wilbert, Christoph Prahl, Dominik Garsche, David Schüler, Thomas Haase, Lourdes Ramirez, Luis Zarzalejo, Angela Meyer, Philippe Blanc, and Robert Pitz-Paal
Adv. Sci. Res., 15, 11–14, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-11-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-15-11-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Downward-facing shadow cameras might play a major role in future energy meteorology. Shadow cameras image shadows directly on the ground from an elevated position. They are used to validate other systems (e.g. all-sky imager based nowcasting systems, cloud speed sensors or satellite forecasts) and can potentially provide short term forecasts for solar power plants. Such forecasts are needed for electricity grids with high penetrations of renewable energy and solar power plants.
Marc Bengulescu, Philippe Blanc, and Lucien Wald
Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 25, 19–37, https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-25-19-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-25-19-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We employ the Hilbert–Huang transform to study the temporal variability in time series of daily means of the surface solar irradiance (SSI) at different locations around the world. The data have a significant spectral peak corresponding to the yearly variability cycle and feature quasi-stochastic high-frequency "weather noise", irrespective of the geographical location or of the local climate. Our findings can improve models for estimating SSI from satellite images or forecasts of the SSI.
Philippe Blanc, Benoit Gschwind, Lionel Ménard, and Lucien Wald
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2017-141, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2017-141, 2018
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
The construction of worldwide maps of surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) parameters is presented. The original data stems from the NASA which is making available maps of BRDF parameters from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument. The original data has been averaged for each month for the period 2004–2011 and a spatial completion of data was performed. The dataset in NetCDF is referenced by doi:10.23646/85d2cd5f-ccaa-482e-a4c9-b6e0c59d966c.
William Wandji Nyamsi, Phillipe Blanc, John A. Augustine, Antti Arola, and Lucien Wald
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-512, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-512, 2018
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
This paper proposes a new, fast and accurate method for estimating photosynthetically active radiation at ground level in cloud-free conditions at any place and time. The method performs very well with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service products as inputs describing the state of the atmosphere. An accuracy that is close to the uncertainty of the measurements themselves is reached. We believe that our research will be widely used in the near future.
William Wandji Nyamsi, Mikko R. A. Pitkänen, Youva Aoun, Philippe Blanc, Anu Heikkilä, Kaisa Lakkala, Germar Bernhard, Tapani Koskela, Anders V. Lindfors, Antti Arola, and Lucien Wald
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 4965–4978, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-4965-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-4965-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This paper proposes a new, fast and accurate method for estimating UV fluxes at ground level in cloud-free conditions at any place and time. The method performs very well with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service products as inputs describing the state of the atmosphere. An accuracy that is close to the uncertainty of the measurements themselves is reached. We believe that our research will be widely used in the near future.
Philip D. Jones, Colin Harpham, Alberto Troccoli, Benoit Gschwind, Thierry Ranchin, Lucien Wald, Clare M. Goodess, and Stephen Dorling
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 9, 471–495, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-471-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-471-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The construction of a bias-adjusted dataset of climate variables at the near surface using ERA-Interim reanalysis is presented. The variables are air temperature, dewpoint temperature, precipitation (daily only), solar radiation, wind speed, and relative humidity.The resulting bias-adjusted dataset is available through the Climate Data Store (CDS) of the Copernicus Climate Change Data Store (C3S), and can be accessed at present from ftp://ecem.climate.copernicus.eu.
Marc Bengulescu, Philippe Blanc, Alexandre Boilley, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 14, 35–48, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-14-35-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-14-35-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the characteristic time-scales of variability found in long-term time-series of daily means of surface solar irradiance (SSI). Estimates of SSI from satellite-derived HelioClim-3 and radiation products from ERA-Interim and MERRA-2 re-analyses are compared to WRDC measurements. It is found that HelioClim-3 renders a more accurate picture of the variability found in ground measurements, not only globally, but also with respect to individual characteristic time-scales.
Mathilde Marchand, Nasser Al-Azri, Armel Ombe-Ndeffotsing, Etienne Wey, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 14, 7–15, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-14-7-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-14-7-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The solar hourly irradiation received at ground level estimated by the databases HelioClim-3v4, HelioClim-3v5 and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) Radiation Service are compared to measurements made in stations in Oman and Abu Dhabi. The correlation coefficients are greater than 0.97. The relative bias is less than 5%. Each database captures accurately the temporal and spatial variability of the irradiance field. The three databases are reliable sources to assess solar radiation.
Claire Thomas, Laurent Saboret, Etienne Wey, Philippe Blanc, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 13, 129–136, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-129-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-129-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
HelioClim-3 (version 4) is a satellite-derived solar surface irradiance database available at d-1 until 2015. To fulfill the requirements of numerous users, a new service based on the principle of persistence has been developed; it provides solar data in real time and forecasts until the end of the current day. The service exhibits good performances for 15 min and 1 h ahead forecasts, and degrades as the temporal horizon increases. Several customers have so far purchased this service.
Marc Bengulescu, Philippe Blanc, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 13, 121–127, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-121-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-121-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The continuous wavelet (CWT) and the Hilbert–Huang transforms (HHT) are compared for the analysis of the temporal variability on ten years of daily means of the surface solar irradiance. In both cases, the variability exhibits a plateau between scales of two days and three months that has decreasing power with increasing scale, a spectral peak corresponding to the annual cycle, and a low power regime in-between. The HHT is shown to be suitable for inspecting the variability of the measurements.
Claire Thomas, Etienne Wey, Philippe Blanc, and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 13, 81–86, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-81-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-81-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Several satellite-derived solar surface irradiance databases provide long-term and homogeneously distributed information on the solar potential at ground level. This paper presents the validation results of three of these databases: HelioClim-3 (versions 4 and 5) and the CAMS radiation service, versus the measurements of 42 stations in Brazil. Despite a slight overestimation of the CAMS radiation service, the three databases are suitable for studies of the solar resources in Brazil.
Mireille Lefèvre and Lucien Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 13, 21–26, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-21-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-21-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The new CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) McClear service is a practical easy-to-use tool to estimate the solar direct and global irradiances received at ground level in cloud-free conditions at any place any time. This article presents validation against 1 min measurements made at three very close stations in Israel in desert conditions. The good results demonstrate the accuracy of McClear and its ability to capture the temporal and spatial variability of the irradiance field.
Mohamed Korany, Mohamed Boraiy, Yehia Eissa, Youva Aoun, Magdy M. Abdel Wahab, Stéphane C. Alfaro, Philippe Blanc, Mossad El-Metwally, Hosni Ghedira, Katja Hungershoefer, and Lucien Wald
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 8, 105–113, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-8-105-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-8-105-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
A database of global and diffuse components of the surface solar hourly irradiation measured from 2004 to 2010 at eight Egyptian meteorological stations is presented. At three sites, the direct component is also available. In addition, a series of meteorological variables is provided at the same hourly resolution. The measurements and quality checks applied to the data are detailed. Finally, 13500 to 29000 measurements of global and diffuse hourly irradiation are available at each site.
P. Blanc and L. Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 13, 1–6, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-1-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-13-1-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Time series of hourly measurements or modelled values of surface solar irradiation are increasingly available. Currently, no solar zenith and azimuth angles are associated to each measurement whereas such angles are necessary for handling the measured or modelled irradiations. A method is proposed to assess such angles with a great accuracy. It makes use of two modelled time-series that can be computed using the web site www.soda-pro.com for any site in the world.
Y. Eissa, P. Blanc, L. Wald, and H. Ghedira
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 5099–5112, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-5099-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-5099-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates whether the spectral aerosol optical properties of the AERONET stations are sufficient for an accurate modelling of the monochromatic beam and circumsolar irradiances under cloud-free conditions in a desert environment. By comparing the modelled irradiances against reference ground measurements, the monochromatic beam and circumsolar irradiances may very well be modelled using a set of inputs extracted from the AERONET data.
W. Wandji Nyamsi, A. Arola, P. Blanc, A. V. Lindfors, V. Cesnulyte, M. R. A. Pitkänen, and L. Wald
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 7449–7456, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-7449-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-7449-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
A novel model of the absorption of radiation by ozone in the UV bands [283, 307]nm and [307, 328]nm yields improvements in the modeling of the transmissivity in these bands. This model is faster than detailed spectral calculations and is as accurate with maximum errors of respectively 0.0006 and 0.0143. How to practically implement this new parameterization in a radiative transfer model is discussed for the case of libRadtran.
W. Wandji Nyamsi, B. Espinar, P. Blanc, and L. Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 12, 5–10, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-12-5-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-12-5-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We propose an innovative method to estimate the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) under clear sky conditions derived from the fast approach of Kato et al. (1999). It provides very good results better than the two state-of-the-art empirical methods computing the daily mean of PAR from the daily mean of total irradiance. In addition, this technique may be extended to be able to accurately estimate other spectral quantities taking into account absorption of plants photosynthetic pigments.
P. Blanc, C. Coulaud, and L. Wald
Adv. Sci. Res., 12, 1–4, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-12-1-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-12-1-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
New Caledonia experiences a decrease in surface solar irradiation since 2004, of order of 4% of the mean yearly irradiation, and amounts to 9 W m 2. The preeminent roles of the changes in cloud cover and to a lesser extent, those in aerosol optical depth on the decrease in yearly irradiation are evidenced. The study highlights the role of data sets offering a worldwide coverage in understanding changes in solar radiation and planning large solar energy plants.
J. Badosa, J. Wood, P. Blanc, C. N. Long, L. Vuilleumier, D. Demengel, and M. Haeffelin
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 4267–4283, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-4267-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-4267-2014, 2014
Z. Qu, B. Gschwind, M. Lefevre, and L. Wald
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 3927–3933, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3927-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3927-2014, 2014
Short summary
Short summary
The HelioClim-3 database (HC3v3) provides records of surface solar irradiation every 15 min estimated by processing images from the geostationary meteorological Meteosat satellites using climatological data sets of atmospheric properties. A method is proposed to improve a posteriori HC3v3 by combining it with data records of advanced global aerosol property forecasts and physically consistent total column content in water vapour and ozone produced by the MACC projects.
M. Lefèvre, A. Oumbe, P. Blanc, B. Espinar, B. Gschwind, Z. Qu, L. Wald, M. Schroedter-Homscheidt, C. Hoyer-Klick, A. Arola, A. Benedetti, J. W. Kaiser, and J.-J. Morcrette
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 2403–2418, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-2403-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-2403-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Atmospheric sciences
Halogen chemistry in volcanic plumes: a 1D framework based on MOCAGE 1D (version R1.18.1) preparing 3D global chemistry modelling
PyFLEXTRKR: a flexible feature tracking Python software for convective cloud analysis
CLGAN: a generative adversarial network (GAN)-based video prediction model for precipitation nowcasting
Long-term evaluation of surface air pollution in CAMSRA and MERRA-2 global reanalyses over Europe (2003–2020)
Emulating aerosol optics with randomly generated neural networks
Development of an ecophysiology module in the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model version 12.2.0 to represent biosphere–atmosphere fluxes relevant for ozone air quality
Comparison of ozone formation attribution techniques in the northeastern United States
Improving trajectory calculations by FLEXPART 10.4+ using single-image super-resolution
Data fusion uncertainty-enabled methods to map street-scale hourly NO2 in Barcelona: a case study with CALIOPE-Urban v1.0
Forecasting tropical cyclone tracks in the northwestern Pacific based on a deep-learning model
Accelerating models for multiphase chemical kinetics through machine learning with polynomial chaos expansion and neural networks
A machine learning emulator for Lagrangian particle dispersion model footprints: a case study using NAME
Improving the representation of shallow cumulus convection with the simplified-higher-order-closure–mass-flux (SHOC+MF v1.0) approach
ISAT v2.0: an integrated tool for nested-domain configurations and model-ready emission inventories for WRF-AQM
Estimation of CH4 emission based on an advanced 4D-LETKF assimilation system
Accelerated estimation of sea-spray-mediated heat flux using Gaussian quadrature: case studies with a coupled CFSv2.0-WW3 system
AMORE-Isoprene v1.0: a new reduced mechanism for gas-phase isoprene oxidation
A method for generating a quasi-linear convective system suitable for observing system simulation experiments
The second Met Office Unified Model–JULES Regional Atmosphere and Land configuration, RAL2
A dynamic ammonia emission model and the online coupling with WRF–Chem (WRF–SoilN–Chem v1.0): development and regional evaluation in China
SCIATRAN software package (V4.6): update and further development of aerosol, clouds, surface reflectance databases and models
Deep learning models for generation of precipitation maps based on numerical weather prediction
An inconsistency in aviation emissions between CMIP5 and CMIP6 and the implications for short-lived species and their radiative forcing
On the use of Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) spectrally resolved radiances to test the EC-Earth climate model (v3.3.3) in clear-sky conditions
Incorporation of aerosol into the COSPv2 satellite lidar simulator for climate model evaluation
The impact of altering emission data precision on compression efficiency and accuracy of simulations of the community multiscale air quality model
AerSett v1.0: a simple and straightforward model for the settling speed of big spherical atmospheric aerosols
How Does Cloud-Radiative Heating over the North Atlantic Change with Grid Spacing, Convective Parameterization, and Microphysics Scheme?
Optimization of weather forecasting for cloud cover over the European domain using the meteorological component of the Ensemble for Stochastic Integration of Atmospheric Simulations version 1.0
Bayesian transdimensional inverse reconstruction of the Fukushima Daiichi caesium 137 release
Intercomparison of the weather and climate physics suites of a unified forecast/climate model system (GRIST-A22.7.28) based on single column modeling
Implementation of HONO into the chemistry–climate model CHASER (V4.0): roles in tropospheric chemistry
Isoprene and monoterpene simulations using the chemistry–climate model EMAC (v2.55) with interactive vegetation from LPJ-GUESS (v4.0)
A modern-day Mars climate in the Met Office Unified Model: dry simulations
The AirGAM 2022r1 air quality trend and prediction model
Evaluation of a cloudy cold-air pool in the Columbia River basin in different versions of the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model
Assessment of WRF (v 4.2.1) dynamically downscaled precipitation on subdaily and daily timescales over CONUS
Comparing Sentinel-5P TROPOMI NO2 column observations with the CAMS regional air quality ensemble
Cross-evaluating WRF-Chem v4.1.2, TROPOMI, APEX, and in situ NO2 measurements over Antwerp, Belgium
Adapting a deep convolutional RNN model with imbalanced regression loss for improved spatio-temporal forecasting of extreme wind speed events in the short to medium range
Technical descriptions of the experimental dynamical downscaling simulations over North America by the CAM5.4-MPAS4.0 variable-resolution model
Convective Gusts Nowcasting Based on Radar Reflectivity and a Deep Learning Algorithm
ICLASS 1.1, a variational Inverse modelling framework for the Chemistry Land-surface Atmosphere Soil Slab model: description, validation, and application
Towards an improved representation of carbonaceous aerosols over the Indian monsoon region in a regional climate model: RegCM
The E3SM Diagnostics Package (E3SM Diags v2.7): a Python-based diagnostics package for Earth system model evaluation
A method for transporting cloud-resolving model variance in a multiscale modeling framework
The Mission Support System (MSS v7.0.4) and its use in planning for the SouthTRAC aircraft campaign
GENerator of reduced Organic Aerosol mechanism (GENOA v1.0): an automatic generation tool of semi-explicit mechanisms
Representing chemical history in ozone time-series predictions – a model experiment study building on the MLAir (v1.5) deep learning framework
Evaluation of high-resolution predictions of fine particulate matter and its composition in an urban area using PMCAMx-v2.0
Virginie Marécal, Ronan Voisin-Plessis, Tjarda Jane Roberts, Alessandro Aiuppa, Herizo Narivelo, Paul David Hamer, Béatrice Josse, Jonathan Guth, Luke Surl, and Lisa Grellier
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2873–2898, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2873-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2873-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We implemented a halogen volcanic chemistry scheme in a one-dimensional modelling framework preparing for further use in a three-dimensional global chemistry-transport model. The results of the simulations for an eruption of Mt Etna in 2008, including various sensitivity tests, show a good consistency with previous modelling studies.
Zhe Feng, Joseph Hardin, Hannah C. Barnes, Jianfeng Li, L. Ruby Leung, Adam Varble, and Zhixiao Zhang
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2753–2776, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2753-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2753-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
PyFLEXTRKR is a flexible atmospheric feature tracking framework with specific capabilities to track convective clouds from a variety of observations and model simulations. The package has a collection of multi-object identification algorithms and has been optimized for large datasets. This paper describes the algorithms and demonstrates applications for tracking deep convective cells and mesoscale convective systems from observations and model simulations at a wide range of scales.
Yan Ji, Bing Gong, Michael Langguth, Amirpasha Mozaffari, and Xiefei Zhi
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2737–2752, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2737-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2737-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Formulating short-term precipitation forecasting as a video prediction task, a novel deep learning architecture (convolutional long short-term memory generative adversarial network, CLGAN) is proposed. A benchmark dataset is built on minute-level precipitation measurements. Results show that with the GAN component the model generates predictions sharing statistical properties with observations, resulting in it outperforming the baseline in dichotomous and spatial scores for heavy precipitation.
Aleksander Lacima, Hervé Petetin, Albert Soret, Dene Bowdalo, Oriol Jorba, Zhaoyue Chen, Raúl F. Méndez Turrubiates, Hicham Achebak, Joan Ballester, and Carlos Pérez García-Pando
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2689–2718, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2689-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2689-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding how air pollution varies across space and time is of key importance for the safeguarding of human health. This work arose in the context of the project EARLY-ADAPT, for which the Barcelona Supercomputing Center developed an air pollution database covering all of Europe. Through different statistical methods, we compared two global pollution models against measurements from ground stations and found significant discrepancies between the observed and the modeled surface pollution.
Andrew Geiss, Po-Lun Ma, Balwinder Singh, and Joseph C. Hardin
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2355–2370, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2355-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2355-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric aerosols play a critical role in Earth's climate, but it is too computationally expensive to directly model their interaction with radiation in climate simulations. This work develops a new neural-network-based parameterization of aerosol optical properties for use in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model that is much more accurate than the current one; it also introduces a unique model optimization method that involves randomly generating neural network architectures.
Joey C. Y. Lam, Amos P. K. Tai, Jason A. Ducker, and Christopher D. Holmes
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2323–2342, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2323-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2323-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a new component within an atmospheric chemistry model to better simulate plant ecophysiological processes relevant for ozone air quality. We showed that it reduces simulated biases in plant uptake of ozone in prior models. The new model enables us to explore how future climatic changes affect air quality via affecting plants, examine ozone–vegetation interactions and feedbacks, and evaluate the impacts of changing atmospheric chemistry and climate on vegetation productivity.
Qian Shu, Sergey L. Napelenok, William T. Hutzell, Kirk R. Baker, Barron H. Henderson, Benjamin N. Murphy, and Christian Hogrefe
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2303–2322, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2303-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2303-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Source attribution methods are generally used to determine culpability of precursor emission sources to ambient pollutant concentrations. However, source attribution of secondarily formed pollutants such as ozone and its precursors cannot be explicitly measured, making evaluation of source apportionment methods challenging. In this study, multiple apportionment approach comparisons show common features but still reveal wide variations in predicted sector contribution and species dependency.
Rüdiger Brecht, Lucie Bakels, Alex Bihlo, and Andreas Stohl
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2181–2192, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2181-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2181-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We use neural-network-based single-image super-resolution to improve the upscaling of meteorological wind fields to be used for particle dispersion models. This deep-learning-based methodology improves the standard linear interpolation typically used in particle dispersion models. The improvement of wind fields leads to substantial improvement in the computed trajectories of the particles.
Alvaro Criado, Jan Mateu Armengol, Hervé Petetin, Daniel Rodriguez-Rey, Jaime Benavides, Marc Guevara, Carlos Pérez García-Pando, Albert Soret, and Oriol Jorba
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2193–2213, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2193-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2193-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This work aims to derive and evaluate a general statistical post-processing tool specifically designed for the street scale that can be applied to any urban air quality system. Our data fusion methodology corrects NO2 fields based on continuous hourly observations and experimental campaigns. This study enables us to obtain exceedance probability maps of air quality standards. In 2019, 13 % of the Barcelona area had a 70 % or higher probability of exceeding the annual legal NO2 limit of 40 µg/m3.
Liang Wang, Bingcheng Wan, Shaohui Zhou, Haofei Sun, and Zhiqiu Gao
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2167–2179, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2167-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2167-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The past 24 h TC trajectories and meteorological field data were used to forecast TC tracks in the northwestern Pacific from hours 6–72 based on GRU_CNN, which we proposed in this paper and which has better prediction results than traditional single deep-learning methods. The historical steering flow of cyclones has a significant effect on improving the accuracy of short-term forecasting, while, in long-term forecasting, the SST and geopotential height will have a particular impact.
Thomas Berkemeier, Matteo Krüger, Aryeh Feinberg, Marcel Müller, Ulrich Pöschl, and Ulrich K. Krieger
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2037–2054, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2037-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2037-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Kinetic multi-layer models (KMs) successfully describe heterogeneous and multiphase atmospheric chemistry. In applications requiring repeated execution, however, these models can be too expensive. We trained machine learning surrogate models on output of the model KM-SUB and achieved high correlations. The surrogate models run orders of magnitude faster, which suggests potential applicability in global optimization tasks and as sub-modules in large-scale atmospheric models.
Elena Fillola, Raul Santos-Rodriguez, Alistair Manning, Simon O'Doherty, and Matt Rigby
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1997–2009, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1997-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1997-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Lagrangian particle dispersion models are used extensively for the estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes using atmospheric observations. However, these models do not scale well as data volumes increase. Here, we develop a proof-of-concept machine learning emulator that can produce outputs similar to those of the dispersion model, but 50 000 times faster, using only meteorological inputs. This works demonstrates the potential of machine learning to accelerate GHG estimations across the globe.
Maria J. Chinita, Mikael Witte, Marcin J. Kurowski, Joao Teixeira, Kay Suselj, Georgios Matheou, and Peter Bogenschutz
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1909–1924, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1909-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1909-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Low clouds are one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate prediction. In this paper, we introduce the first version of the unified turbulence and shallow convection parameterization named SHOC+MF developed to improve the representation of shallow cumulus clouds in the Simple Cloud-Resolving E3SM Atmosphere Model (SCREAM). Here, we also show promising preliminary results in a single-column model framework for two benchmark cases of shallow cumulus convection.
Kun Wang, Chao Gao, Kai Wu, Kaiyun Liu, Haofan Wang, Mo Dan, Xiaohui Ji, and Qingqing Tong
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1961–1973, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1961-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1961-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study establishes an easy-to-use and integrated framework for a model-ready emission inventory for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)–Air Quality Numerical Model (AQM). A free tool called the ISAT (Inventory Spatial Allocation Tool) was developed based on this framework. ISAT helps users complete the workflow from the WRF nested-domain configuration to a model-ready emission inventory for AQM with a regional emission inventory and a shapefile for the target region.
Jagat S. H. Bisht, Prabir K. Patra, Masayuki Takigawa, Takashi Sekiya, Yugo Kanaya, Naoko Saitoh, and Kazuyuki Miyazaki
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1823–1838, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1823-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1823-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we estimated CH4 fluxes using an advanced 4D-LETKF method. The system was tested and optimized using observation system simulation experiments (OSSEs), where a known surface emission distribution is retrieved from synthetic observations. The availability of satellite measurements has increased, and there are still many missions focused on greenhouse gas observations that have not yet launched. The technique being referred to has the potential to improve estimates of CH4 fluxes.
Ruizi Shi and Fanghua Xu
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1839–1856, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1839-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1839-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Based on the Gaussian quadrature method, a fast algorithm of sea-spray-mediated heat flux is developed. Compared with the widely used single-radius algorithm, the new fast algorithm shows a better agreement with the full spectrum integral of spray flux. The new fast algorithm is evaluated in a coupled modeling system, and the simulations of sea surface temperature, wind speed and wave height are improved. Thereby, the new fast algorithm has great potential to be used in coupled modeling systems.
Forwood Wiser, Bryan K. Place, Siddhartha Sen, Havala O. T. Pye, Benjamin Yang, Daniel M. Westervelt, Daven K. Henze, Arlene M. Fiore, and V. Faye McNeill
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1801–1821, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1801-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1801-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a reduced model of atmospheric isoprene oxidation, AMORE-Isoprene 1.0. It was created using a new Automated Model Reduction (AMORE) method designed to simplify complex chemical mechanisms with minimal manual adjustments to the output. AMORE-Isoprene 1.0 has improved accuracy and similar size to other reduced isoprene mechanisms. When included in the CRACMM mechanism, it improved the accuracy of EPA’s CMAQ model predictions for the northeastern USA compared to observations.
Jonathan D. Labriola, Jeremy A. Gibbs, and Louis J. Wicker
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1779–1799, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1779-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1779-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) are simulated case studies used to understand how different assimilated weather observations impact forecast skill. This study introduces the methods used to create an OSSE for a tornadic quasi-linear convective system event. These steps provide an opportunity to simulate a realistic high-impact weather event and can be used to encourage a more diverse set of OSSEs.
Mike Bush, Ian Boutle, John Edwards, Anke Finnenkoetter, Charmaine Franklin, Kirsty Hanley, Aravindakshan Jayakumar, Huw Lewis, Adrian Lock, Marion Mittermaier, Saji Mohandas, Rachel North, Aurore Porson, Belinda Roux, Stuart Webster, and Mark Weeks
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1713–1734, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1713-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1713-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Building on the baseline of RAL1, the RAL2 science configuration is used for regional modelling around the UM partnership and in operations at the Met Office. RAL2 has been tested in different parts of the world including Australia, India and the UK. RAL2 increases medium and low cloud amounts in the mid-latitudes compared to RAL1, leading to improved cloud forecasts and a reduced diurnal cycle of screen temperature. There is also a reduction in the frequency of heavier precipitation rates.
Chuanhua Ren, Xin Huang, Tengyu Liu, Yu Song, Zhang Wen, Xuejun Liu, Aijun Ding, and Tong Zhu
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1641–1659, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1641-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1641-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Ammonia in the atmosphere has wide impacts on the ecological environment and air quality, and its emission from soil volatilization is highly sensitive to meteorology, making it challenging to be well captured in models. We developed a dynamic emission model capable of calculating ammonia emission interactively with meteorological and soil conditions. Such a coupling of soil emission with meteorology provides a better understanding of ammonia emission and its contribution to atmospheric aerosol.
Linlu Mei, Vladimir Rozanov, Alexei Rozanov, and John P. Burrows
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1511–1536, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1511-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1511-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This paper summarizes recent developments of aerosol, cloud and surface reflectance databases and models in the framework of the software package SCIATRAN. These updates and developments extend the capabilities of the radiative transfer modeling, especially by accounting for different kinds of vertical inhomogeneties. Vertically inhomogeneous clouds and different aerosol types can be easily accounted for within SCIATRAN (V4.6). The widely used surface models and databases are now available.
Adrian Rojas-Campos, Michael Langguth, Martin Wittenbrink, and Gordon Pipa
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1467–1480, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1467-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1467-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Our paper presents an alternative approach for generating high-resolution precipitation maps based on the nonlinear combination of the complete set of variables of the numerical weather predictions. This process combines the super-resolution task with the bias correction in a single step, generating high-resolution corrected precipitation maps with a lead time of 3 h. We used using deep learning algorithms to combine the input information and increase the accuracy of the precipitation maps.
Robin N. Thor, Mariano Mertens, Sigrun Matthes, Mattia Righi, Johannes Hendricks, Sabine Brinkop, Phoebe Graf, Volker Grewe, Patrick Jöckel, and Steven Smith
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1459–1466, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1459-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1459-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We report on an inconsistency in the latitudinal distribution of aviation emissions between two versions of a data product which is widely used by researchers. From the available documentation, we do not expect such an inconsistency. We run a chemistry–climate model to compute the effect of the inconsistency in emissions on atmospheric chemistry and radiation and find that the radiative forcing associated with aviation ozone is 7.6 % higher when using the less recent version of the data.
Stefano Della Fera, Federico Fabiano, Piera Raspollini, Marco Ridolfi, Ugo Cortesi, Flavio Barbara, and Jost von Hardenberg
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1379–1394, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1379-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1379-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The long-term comparison between observed and simulated outgoing longwave radiances represents a strict test to evaluate climate model performance. In this work, 9 years of synthetic spectrally resolved radiances, simulated online on the basis of the atmospheric fields predicted by the EC-Earth global climate model (v3.3.3) in clear-sky conditions, are compared to IASI spectral radiance climatology in order to detect model biases in temperature and humidity at different atmospheric levels.
Marine Bonazzola, Hélène Chepfer, Po-Lun Ma, Johannes Quaas, David M. Winker, Artem Feofilov, and Nick Schutgens
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1359–1377, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1359-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1359-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol has a large impact on climate. Using a lidar aerosol simulator ensures consistent comparisons between modeled and observed aerosol. We present a lidar aerosol simulator that applies a cloud masking and an aerosol detection threshold. We estimate the lidar signals that would be observed at 532 nm by the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization overflying the atmosphere predicted by a climate model. Our comparison at the seasonal timescale shows a discrepancy in the Southern Ocean.
Michael S. Walters and David C. Wong
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1179–1190, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1179-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1179-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A typical numerical simulation that associates with a large amount of input and output data, applying popular compression software, gzip or bzip2, on data is one good way to mitigate data storage burden. This article proposes a simple technique to alter input, output, or input and output by keeping a specific number of significant digits in data and demonstrates an enhancement in compression efficiency on the altered data but maintains similar statistical performance of the numerical simulation.
Sylvain Mailler, Laurent Menut, Arineh Cholakian, and Romain Pennel
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1119–1127, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1119-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1119-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Large or even
giantparticles of mineral dust exist in the atmosphere but, so far, solving an non-linear equation was needed to calculate the speed at which they fall in the atmosphere. The model we present, AerSett v1.0 (AERosol SETTling version 1.0), provides a new and simple way of calculating their free-fall velocity in the atmosphere, which will be useful to anyone trying to understand and represent adequately the transport of giant dust particles by the wind.
Sylvia Sullivan, Behrooz Keshtgar, Nicole Albern, Elzina Bala, Christoph Braun, Anubhav Choudhary, Johannes Hörner, Hilke Lentink, Georgios Papavasileiou, and Aiko Voigt
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-109, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-109, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds absorb and reemit infrared radiation from Earth's surface and absorb and reflect incoming solar radiation. As a result, they change atmospheric temperature gradients that drive large-scale circulation. To better simulate this circulation, we study how the radiative heating and cooling from clouds depends on model settings like grid spacing, whether we describe convection approximately or exactly, and the level of detail used to describe small-scale processes, or microphysics, in clouds.
Yen-Sen Lu, Garrett H. Good, and Hendrik Elbern
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1083–1104, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1083-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1083-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The Weather Forecasting and Research (WRF) model consists of many parameters and options that can be adapted to different conditions. This expansive sensitivity study uses a large-scale simulation system to determine the most suitable options for predicting cloud cover in Europe for deterministic and probabilistic weather predictions for day-ahead forecasting simulations.
Joffrey Dumont Le Brazidec, Marc Bocquet, Olivier Saunier, and Yelva Roustan
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1039–1052, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1039-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1039-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
When radionuclides are released into the atmosphere, the assessment of the consequences depends on the evaluation of the magnitude and temporal evolution of the release, which can be highly variable as in the case of Fukushima Daiichi.
Here, we propose Bayesian inverse modelling methods and the reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo technique, which allows one to evaluate the temporal variability of the release and to integrate different types of information in the source reconstruction.
Xiaohan Li, Yi Zhang, Xindong Peng, Baiquan Zhou, Jian Li, and Yiming Wang
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-283, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-283, 2023
Revised manuscript accepted for GMD
Short summary
Short summary
The weather and climate physics suites used in GRIST-A22.7.28 are compared using single column modeling. The source of their discrepancies in terms of modeling cloud and precipitation is explored. Convective parameterization is found to be a key factor responsible for the differences. The two suites also have intrinsic differences in the interaction between microphysics and other processes, resulting in different cloud features and time step sensitivities.
Phuc Thi Minh Ha, Yugo Kanaya, Fumikazu Taketani, Maria Dolores Andrés Hernández, Benjamin Schreiner, Klaus Pfeilsticker, and Kengo Sudo
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 927–960, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-927-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-927-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
HONO affects tropospheric oxidizing capacity; thus, it is implemented into the chemistry–climate model CHASER. The model substantially underpredicts daytime HONO, while nitrate photolysis on surfaces can supplement the daytime HONO budget. Current HONO chemistry predicts reductions of 20.4 % for global tropospheric NOx, 40–67 % for OH, and 30–45 % for O3 in the summer North Pacific. In contrast, OH and O3 winter levels in China are greatly enhanced.
Ryan Vella, Matthew Forrest, Jos Lelieveld, and Holger Tost
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 885–906, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-885-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-885-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are released by vegetation and have a major impact on atmospheric chemistry and aerosol formation. Non-interacting vegetation constrains the majority of numerical models used to estimate global BVOC emissions, and thus, the effects of changing vegetation on emissions are not addressed. In this work, we replace the offline vegetation with dynamic vegetation states by linking a chemistry–climate model with a global dynamic vegetation model.
Danny McCulloch, Denis E. Sergeev, Nathan Mayne, Matthew Bate, James Manners, Ian Boutle, Benjamin Drummond, and Kristzian Kohary
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 621–657, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-621-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-621-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present results from the Met Office Unified Model (UM) to study the dry Martian climate. We describe our model set-up conditions and run two scenarios, with radiatively active/inactive dust. We compare both scenarios to results from an existing Mars climate model, the planetary climate model. We find good agreement in winds and air temperatures, but dust amounts differ between models. This study highlights the importance of using the UM for future Mars research.
Sam-Erik Walker, Sverre Solberg, Philipp Schneider, and Cristina Guerreiro
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 573–595, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-573-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-573-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed a statistical model for estimating trends in the daily air quality observations of NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5, adjusting for trends and short-term variations in meteorology. The model is general and may also be used for prediction purposes, including forecasting. It has been applied in a recent comprehensive study in Europe. Significant declines are shown for the pollutants from 2005 to 2019, mainly due to reductions in emissions not attributable to changes in meteorology.
Bianca Adler, James M. Wilczak, Jaymes Kenyon, Laura Bianco, Irina V. Djalalova, Joseph B. Olson, and David D. Turner
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 597–619, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-597-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-597-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Rapid changes in wind speed make the integration of wind energy produced during persistent orographic cold-air pools difficult to integrate into the electrical grid. By evaluating three versions of NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model, we demonstrate how model developments targeted during the second Wind Forecast Improvement Project improve the forecast of a persistent cold-air pool event.
Abhishekh Kumar Srivastava, Paul Aaron Ullrich, Deeksha Rastogi, Pouya Vahmani, Andrew Jones, and Richard Grotjahn
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1382, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1382, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Stakeholders need high-resolution regional climate data for applications such as assessing water availability, mountain snowpack, etc. This study examines 3- and 24-hr historical precipitation over the contiguous United States in the 12-km WRF version 4.2.1-based dynamical downscaling of the ERA5 reanalysis. WRF improves precipitation characteristics such as the annual cycle and distribution of the precipitation maxima, but it also displays regionally and seasonally varying precipitation biases.
John Douros, Henk Eskes, Jos van Geffen, K. Folkert Boersma, Steven Compernolle, Gaia Pinardi, Anne-Marlene Blechschmidt, Vincent-Henri Peuch, Augustin Colette, and Pepijn Veefkind
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 509–534, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-509-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-509-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We focus on the challenges associated with comparing atmospheric composition models with satellite products such as tropospheric NO2 columns. The aim is to highlight the methodological difficulties and propose sound ways of doing such comparisons. Building on the comparisons, a new satellite product is proposed and made available, which takes advantage of higher-resolution, regional atmospheric modelling to improve estimates of troposheric NO2 columns over Europe.
Catalina Poraicu, Jean-François Müller, Trissevgeni Stavrakou, Dominique Fonteyn, Frederik Tack, Felix Deutsch, Quentin Laffineur, Roeland Van Malderen, and Nele Veldeman
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 479–508, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-479-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-479-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
High-resolution WRF-Chem simulations are conducted over Antwerp, Belgium, in June 2019 and evaluated using meteorological data and in situ, airborne, and spaceborne NO2 measurements. An intercomparison of model, aircraft, and TROPOMI NO2 columns is conducted to characterize biases in versions 1.3.1 and 2.3.1 of the satellite product. A mass balance method is implemented to provide improved emissions for simulating NO2 distribution over the study area.
Daan R. Scheepens, Irene Schicker, Kateřina Hlaváčková-Schindler, and Claudia Plant
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 251–270, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-251-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-251-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The production of wind energy is increasing rapidly and relies heavily on atmospheric conditions. To ensure power grid stability, accurate predictions of wind speed are needed, especially in the short range and for extreme wind speed ranges. In this work, we demonstrate the forecasting skills of a data-driven deep learning model with model adaptations to suit higher wind speed ranges. The resulting model can be applied to other data and parameters, too, to improve nowcasting predictions.
Koichi Sakaguchi, L. Ruby Leung, Colin M. Zarzycki, Jihyeon Jang, Seth McGinnis, Bryce E. Harrop, William C. Skamarock, Andrew Gettelman, Chun Zhao, William J. Gutowski, Stephen Leak, and Linda Mearns
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1199, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1199, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We document details of the regional climate downscaling dataset produced by a global variable-resolution model. The experiment is unique for its following a standard protocol designed for coordinated experiments of regional models. Negligible influence of post-processing on statistical analysis, importance of simulation quality outside of the target region, and computational challenges that our model code faced under rapidly changing super computer systems are illustrated.
Haixia Xiao, Yaqiang Wang, Yu Zheng, Yuanyuan Zheng, Xiaoran Zhuang, Hongyan Wang, and Mei Gao
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-272, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-272, 2023
Revised manuscript accepted for GMD
Short summary
Short summary
Due to the small-scale and nonstationary nature of convective wind gusts (CGs), reliable CGs nowcasting has remained unattainable. Here, we developed a deep learning model – namely CGsNet – for 0–2 hours of quantitative CGs nowcasting, first achieving minute-kilometer-level forecasts. Based on CGsNet model, the average surface wind speed (ASWS) and peak wind gust speed (PWGS) predictions are obtained. Experiments indicate that CGsNet exhibits higher accuracy than the traditional method.
Peter J. M. Bosman and Maarten C. Krol
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 47–74, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-47-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-47-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We describe an inverse modelling framework constructed around a simple model for the atmospheric boundary layer. This framework can be fed with various observation types to study the boundary layer and land–atmosphere exchange. With this framework, it is possible to estimate model parameters and the associated uncertainties. Some of these parameters are difficult to obtain directly by observations. An example application for a grassland in the Netherlands is included.
Sudipta Ghosh, Sagnik Dey, Sushant Das, Nicole Riemer, Graziano Giuliani, Dilip Ganguly, Chandra Venkataraman, Filippo Giorgi, Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Srikanthan Ramachandran, Thazhathakal Ayyappen Rajesh, Harish Gadhavi, and Atul Kumar Srivastava
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-1-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Accurate representation of aerosols in climate models is critical for minimizing the uncertainty in climate projections. Here, we implement region-specific emission fluxes and a more accurate scheme for carbonaceous aerosol ageing processes in a regional climate model (RegCM4) and show that it improves model performance significantly against in situ, reanalysis, and satellite data over the Indian subcontinent. We recommend improving the model performance before using them for climate studies.
Chengzhu Zhang, Jean-Christophe Golaz, Ryan Forsyth, Tom Vo, Shaocheng Xie, Zeshawn Shaheen, Gerald L. Potter, Xylar S. Asay-Davis, Charles S. Zender, Wuyin Lin, Chih-Chieh Chen, Chris R. Terai, Salil Mahajan, Tian Zhou, Karthik Balaguru, Qi Tang, Cheng Tao, Yuying Zhang, Todd Emmenegger, Susannah Burrows, and Paul A. Ullrich
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 9031–9056, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-9031-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-9031-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Earth system model (ESM) developers run automated analysis tools on data from candidate models to inform model development. This paper introduces a new Python package, E3SM Diags, that has been developed to support ESM development and use routinely in the development of DOE's Energy Exascale Earth System Model. This tool covers a set of essential diagnostics to evaluate the mean physical climate from simulations, as well as several process-oriented and phenomenon-based evaluation diagnostics.
Walter Hannah and Kyle Pressel
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 8999–9013, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8999-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8999-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
A multiscale modeling framework couples two models of the atmosphere that each cover different scale ranges. Traditionally, fluctuations in the small-scale model are not transported by the flow on the large-scale model grid, but this is hypothesized to be responsible for a persistent, unphysical checkerboard pattern. A method is presented to facilitate the transport of these small-scale fluctuations, analogous to how small-scale clouds and turbulence are transported in the real atmosphere.
Reimar Bauer, Jens-Uwe Grooß, Jörn Ungermann, May Bär, Markus Geldenhuys, and Lars Hoffmann
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 8983–8997, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8983-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8983-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The Mission Support System (MSS) is an open source software package that has been used for planning flight tracks of scientific aircraft in multiple measurement campaigns during the last decade. Here, we describe the MSS software and its use during the SouthTRAC measurement campaign in 2019. As an example for how the MSS software is used in conjunction with many datasets, we describe the planning of a single flight probing orographic gravity waves propagating up into the lower mesosphere.
Zhizhao Wang, Florian Couvidat, and Karine Sartelet
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 8957–8982, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8957-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8957-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Air quality models need to reliably predict secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) at a reasonable computational cost. Thus, we developed GENOA v1.0, a mechanism reduction algorithm that preserves the accuracy of detailed gas-phase chemical mechanisms for SOA formation, thereby improving the practical use of actual chemistry in SOA models. With GENOA, a near-explicit chemical scheme was reduced to 2 % of its original size and computational time, with an average error of less than 3 %.
Felix Kleinert, Lukas H. Leufen, Aurelia Lupascu, Tim Butler, and Martin G. Schultz
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 8913–8930, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8913-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8913-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We examine the effects of spatially aggregated upstream information as input for a deep learning model forecasting near-surface ozone levels. Using aggregated data from one upstream sector (45°) improves the forecast by ~ 10 % for 4 prediction days. Three upstream sectors improve the forecasts by ~ 14 % on the first 2 d only. Our results serve as an orientation for other researchers or environmental agencies focusing on pointwise time-series predictions, for example, due to regulatory purposes.
Brian T. Dinkelacker, Pablo Garcia Rivera, Ioannis Kioutsioukis, Peter J. Adams, and Spyros N. Pandis
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 8899–8912, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8899-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-8899-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The performance of a chemical transport model in reproducing PM2.5 concentrations and composition was evaluated at the finest scale using measurements from regulatory sites as well as a network of low-cost monitors. Total PM2.5 mass is reproduced well by the model during the winter when compared to regulatory measurements, but in the summer PM2.5 is underpredicted, mainly due to difficulties in reproducing regional secondary organic aerosol levels.
Cited articles
Beyer, H. G., Costanzo, C., and Heinemann, D.: Modifications of the Heliosat procedure for irradiance estimates from satellite images, Solar Energy, 56, 207–212, https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(95)00092-6, 1996.
Blanc, P., Gschwind, B., Lefevre, M., and Wald, L.: The HelioClim project: Surface solar irradiance data for climate applications, Remote Sens., 3, 343–361, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs3020343, 2011.
Calbo, J., Pages, D., and Gonzalez, J.-A.: Empirical studies of cloud effects on UV radiation: A review, Rev. Geophys., 43, RG2002, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004RG000155, 2005.
Deneke, H. M., Feijt, A. J., and Roebeling, R. A.: Estimating surface solar irradiance from Meteosat SEVIRI-derived cloud properties, Remote Sens. Environ., 12, 3131–3141, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2008.03.012, 2008.
den Outer, P. N., Slaper, H., Kaurola, J., Lindfors, A., Kazantzidis, A., Bais, A. F. , Feister, U., Junk, J., Janouch, M., and Josefsson, W.: Reconstructing of erythemal ultraviolet radiation levels in Europe for the past 4 decades, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 115, D10102, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012827, 2010.
Granier, C., Engelen, R., Simmons, A., and the MACC Management Team: An overview of the MACC European project, Geophys. Res. Abstr., 12, EGU2010-3112, EGU General Assembly 2010, 2–7 May 2010, Vienna, Austria, 2010.
Greuell, W., Meirink, J. F., and Wang, P.: Retrieval and validation of global, direct, and diffuse irradiance derived from SEVIRI satellite observations, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 118, 2340–2361, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrd.50194, 2013.
Gueymard, C. A.: SMARTS, A simple model of the atmospheric radiative transfer of sunshine: Algorithms and performance assessment, Technical Report No. FSEC-PF-270-95, Cocoa, FL: Florida Solar Energy Center, 1995.
Huang, G. H., Ma, M. G., Liang, S. L., Liu, S. M., and Li, X.: A LUT-based approach to estimate surface solar irradiance by combining MODIS and MTSAT data, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 116, D22201, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD016120, 2011.
Kaiser, J. W., Peuch, V.-H., Benedetti, A., Boucher, O., Engelen, R. J., Holzer-Popp, T., Morcrette, J.-J., Wooster, M. J., and the MACC-II Management Board: The pre-operational GMES Atmospheric Service in MACC-II and its potential usage of Sentinel-3 observations, ESA Special Publication SP-708, Proceedings of the 3rd MERIS/(A)ATSR and OCLI-SLSTR (Sentinel-3) Preparatory Workshop, held in ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy, 15–19 October 2012, 2012.
Key, J. and Schweiger, A. J.: Tools for atmospheric radiative transfer: Streamer and Flux Net, Comput. Geosci., 24, 443–451, 1998.
Lefèvre, M., Oumbe, A., Blanc, P., Espinar, B., Gschwind, B., Qu, Z., Wald, L., Schroedter-Homscheidt, M., Hoyer-Klick, C., Arola, A., Benedetti, A., Kaiser, J. W., and Morcrette, J.-J.: McClear: a new model estimating downwelling solar radiation at ground level in clear-sky conditions, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 2403–2418, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-2403-2013, 2013.
Liou, K.: On the absorption and reflection and transmission of solar radiation in cloudy atmospheres, J. Atmos. Sci., 33, 798–805, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1976)033<0798:OTARAT>2.0.CO;2, 1976.
Mayer, B. and Kylling, A.: Technical note: The libRadtran software package for radiative transfer calculations – description and examples of use, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 1855–1877, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-5-1855-2005, 2005.
Mueller, R., Dagestad, K. F., Ineichen, P., Schroedter, M., Cros, S., Dumortier, D., Kuhlemann, R., Olseth, J. A., Piernavieja, G., Reise, C., Wald, L., and Heinnemann, D.: Rethinking satellite based solar irradiance modelling – The SOLIS clear-sky module, Remote Sens. Environ., 91, 160–174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2004.02.009, 2004.
Mueller, R., Matsoukas, C., Gratzki, A., Behr, H., and Hollmann, R.: The CM-SAF operational scheme for the satellite based retrieval of solar surface irradiance – a LUT based eigenvector hybrid approach, Remote Sens. Environ., 113, 1012–1024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2009.01.012, 2009.
Oumbe, A.: Exploitation des nouvelles capacités d'observation de la terre pour évaluer le rayonnement solaire incident au sol (Assessment of solar surface radiation using new earth observation capabilities), PhD thesis, MINES ParisTech, 128 pp., 9 November 2009.
Oumbe, A., Blanc, Ph., Gschwind, B., Lefevre, M., Qu, Z., Schroedter-Homscheidt, M., and Wald, L.: Solar irradiance in clear atmosphere: study of parameterisations of change with altitude, Adv. Sci. Res., 6, 199–203, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-6-199-2011, 2011.
Oumbe, A., Qu, Z., Blanc, P., Bru, H., Lefevre, M., and Wald, L.: Modeling circumsolar irradiance to adjust beam irradiances from radiative transfer models to measurements, EMS Annual Meeting 2012, 10–14 September 2012, Lodz, Poland, 2012.
Peuch, V.-H., Rouil, L., Tarrason, L., and Elbern, H.: Towards European-scale Air Quality operational services for GMES Atmosphere, 9th EMS Annual Meeting, EMS2009-511, 9th European Conference on Applications of Meteorology (ECAM) Abstracts, held 28 Sept.–2 Oct. 2009, Toulouse, France, 2009.
Qu, Z.: Modélisation du transfert radiatif en atmosphère nuageuse en vue de l'estimation du rayonnement solaire au sol (Modeling radiative transfer in cloudy atmosphere to assess surface solar irradiance), PhD Thesis, MINES ParisTech, Paris, France, 2013.
Qu, Z., Oumbe, A., Blanc, P., Espinar, B., Gschwind, B., Lefevre, M., Wald, L., Gesell, G., and Schroedter-Homscheidt, M.: Fast radiative transfer parameterisation for assessing the surface solar irradiance – the Heliosat-4 method, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., in preparation, 2014.
Rigollier, C., Bauer, O., and Wald, L.: On the clear sky model of the 4th European Solar Radiation Atlas with respect to the Heliosat method, Solar Energy, 68, 33-48, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(99)00055-9, 2000.
Rossow, W. and Schiffer, R.: Advances in understanding clouds from ISCCP, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 80, 2261–2287, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1999)080<2261:AIUCFI>2.0.CO;2, 1999.
Schulz, J., Albert, P., Behr, H.-D., Caprion, D., Deneke, H., Dewitte, S., Dürr, B., Fuchs, P., Gratzki, A., Hechler, P., Hollmann, R., Johnston, S., Karlsson, K.-G., Manninen, T., Müller, R., Reuter, M., Riihelä, A., Roebeling, R., Selbach, N., Tetzlaff, A., Thomas, W., Werscheck, M., Wolters, E., and Zelenka, A.: Operational climate monitoring from space: the EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM-SAF), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 1687–1709, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-1687-2009, 2009.
Stamnes, K., Tsay, S.-C., Wiscombe, W., and Jayaweera, K.: Numerically stable algorithm for discrete–ordinate–method radiative transfer in multiple scattering and emitting layered media, Appl. Opt., 27, 2502–2509, https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.27.002502, 1988.
Tselioudis, G., Rossow, W. B., and Rind, D.: Global patterns of cloud optical thickness variation with temperature, J. Climate, 5, 1484–1495, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1992)005<1484:GPOCOT>2.0.CO;2, 1992.
Tsvetsinskaya, E. A., Schaaf, C. B., Gao, F., Strahler, A. H., Dickinson, R. E., Zeng, X., and Lucht, W.: Relating MODIS-derived surface albedo to soils and rock types over Northern Africa and the Arabian peninsula, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 1353, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001GL014096, 2002.
Wendler, G. and Eaton, F.: On the desertification of the Sahel zone, Climatic Change, 5, 365–380, 1983.
WMO: Guide to meteorological instruments and methods of observation, World Meteorological Organization, WMO no 8, 7th Edn., Geneva, Switzerland, 2008.
Download
The requested paper has a corresponding corrigendum published. Please read the corrigendum first before downloading the article.
- Article
(475 KB) - Metadata XML