Evaluating tropical cyclone forecast track uncertainty using a grand ensemble of ensemble prediction systems

The skill of a combined grand ensemble (GE), which is constructed from three operational global ensemble prediction systems (EPS), is evaluated with respect to the probability forecast of a tropical cyclone (TC) being within a specified area. Anisotropic probability ellipses are defined from the GE to contain 68% of the ensemble members. Forecast reliability is based on whether the forecast verifying position is within the ellipse. A sharpness parameter is based on the size of the GE-based probability ellipse relative to other operational forecast probability ellipses. For the 2010 Atlantic TC season, results indicate that the GE ellipses exhibit a high degree of reliability whereas the operational probability circle tends to be over-dispersive. Additionally, the GE ellipse tends to be sharper than the operational product for forecast intervals beyond 48 hours. The size and shape of the GE ellipses varied with TC track types, which suggests that information about the physics of the flow-dependent system is retained whereas isotropic probability ellipses may not reflect variability associated with track type. It is concluded that the GE probability ellipse demonstrates utility for combined EPS to enhance probabilistic forecasts for use as TC-related decision aids, as there is a potential for reducing the sizes of warning areas.http://archive.org/details/evaluatingtropic109455465Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited