Validation of Regional Model Simulations

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Validation of Regional Model Simulations Over
West Africa using the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission - Satellite) NASA
GISS (Goddard Institute For Space Studies) NASA
NYCRI Internship Program (New York City Research
Initiative) Dr. Leonard M. Druyan Dr. Matthew
Fulakeza Charles Steven Sosa Mr. Ruben
Worrell Alexis Phillips
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Region of StudyLatitude -20.00 º S to
35.00 º NLongitude -35.00 º W to 35.00 º E
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Background Information

• A Regional Model is a multi-purpose climatology
  tool that is run through UNIX
• simulates climate-environment of a specific
  region
• Recent NCEP Reanalysis data sets are used as
  boundary inital conditions
• runs a good number of variables for each either
  16 or 28 layers of the atmosphere, depending on
  the regional model
• 16-layer (RM-3) takes less time to calculate
  output then 28-layer
• 28 layer (RM-3b), takes longer to calculate
  output however, is more detailed
• The TRMM is used to validate the regional models
  simulation based on its binary output
• Outputs from the RM-3, RM-3b, and the TRMM are
  run through Transform
• universal color bar to test the accuracy of the
  regional models.

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Methods
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Methods Continued

• Based upon the date, data from the TRMM Satellite
  (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) is needed
  for the simulated time period
• The TRMM helps in making sure that the output
  from the regional models is at least close to
  accurate.
• The satellite gives an account of what actually
  happened for the time period specified, in the
  region specified.
• All outputs from the TRMM and Regional Model(s)
  will be run through Transform
• Gives a side-by-side comparison of the TRMM
  (actual) and the Regional Models
• When all outputs are put through Transform and
  interpolated (image creation), a comparison can
  be made by differencing either the 28 layer with
  the TRMM or the 16 layer with the TRMM

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Discussion

• Last summer - running preliminary tests on the
  RM-3b 28 layer model against the TRMM Satellite.
• The RM would serve as a climate prediction tool
  for the ACMAD (African Centré for Meteorological
  Studies) so that droughts in the West African
  region can be seen ahead of time.
• Facilitate the meteorologists in climate
  prediction
• Implementations of the United Nations Relief Aid
  ahead of time so that damages and lives lost can
  be decreased dramatically.

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Comparison
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Conclusions Future Work

• I would like to thank Senior Research Scientist,
  Leonard Druyan and Associate Research Scientist,
  Matthew Fulakeza for their encouragement and
  support and I look forward to completing the rest
  of the research for this summer.
• Although the RM3b 28 layer outputs more rain over
  the Atlantic, we feel that the precipitation
  patterns are accurate enough to predict future
  climate during the rainy season of West Africa
• Next Summer - two scientists from ACMAD will be
  coming here next summer for Matthew and Len to
  train in using the RM3b
• Special thanks to Frank Scalzo, Elizabeth
  Rudolph, Mr. Ruben Worrell, Alexis Phillips, Dr.
  Joe Barba, Mr. Otto Marte, Mr. Luis Villada, Mr.
  Victor Flores, Dr. Yiannis Andreopoulos, MTSI,
  the NYCRI, Michael Shospin, Angel Suarez and
  Sabrina Hosein for all their help and tech
  support. I would like to personally thank my
  mother, Ms. Carolina M. Sosa and family. Finally
  we thank Southern Connecticut State University
  for their support in creating the video files.
  Thank you.