Wavelet-based spatial comparison technique for analysing and evaluating two-dimensional geophysical model fields

21Citations
Citations of this article
33Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Complex numerical models of the Earth's environment, based around 3-D or 4-Dtime and space domains are routinely used for applications including climatepredictions, weather forecasts, fishery management and environmental impactassessments. Quantitatively assessing the ability of these models toaccurately reproduce geographical patterns at a range of spatial and temporalscales has always been a difficult problem to address. However, this iscrucial if we are to rely on these models for decision making. Satellite dataare potentially the only observational dataset able to cover the largespatial domains analysed by many types of geophysical models. Consequentlyoptical wavelength satellite data is beginning to be used to evaluate modelhindcast fields of terrestrial and marine environments. However, thesesatellite data invariably contain regions of occluded or missing data due toclouds, further complicating or impacting on any comparisons with the model.This work builds on a published methodology, that evaluates precipitationforecast using radar observations based on predefined absolute thresholds. Itallows model skill to be evaluated at a range of spatial scales and rainintensities. Here we extend the original method to allow its genericapplication to a range of continuous and discontinuous geophysical datafields, and therefore allowing its use with optical satellite data. This isachieved through two major improvements to the original method: (i) allthresholds are determined based on the statistical distribution of the inputdata, so no a priori knowledge about the model fields being analysed isrequired and (ii) occluded data can be analysed without impacting on themetric results. The method can be used to assess a model's ability tosimulate geographical patterns over a range of spatial scales. We illustratehow the method provides a compact and concise way of visualising the degreeof agreement between spatial features in two datasets. The application of thenew method, its handling of bias and occlusion and the advantages of thenovel method are demonstrated through the analysis of model fields from amarine ecosystem model. © Author(s) 2012.

References Powered by Scopus

Zur Theorie der orthogonalen Funktionensysteme - Erste Mitteilung

1494Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Skill assessment for coupled biological/physical models of marine systems

348Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Quantifying uncertainty in high-resolution coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem models

250Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

ERSEM 15.06: A generic model for marine biogeochemistry and the ecosystem dynamics of the lower trophic levels

208Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

A system of metrics for the assessment and improvement of aquatic ecosystem models

76Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Decadal reanalysis of biogeochemical indicators and fluxes in the North West European shelf-sea ecosystem

56Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Saux Picart, S., Butenschén, M., & Shutler, J. D. (2012). Wavelet-based spatial comparison technique for analysing and evaluating two-dimensional geophysical model fields. Geoscientific Model Development, 5(1), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-5-223-2012

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 13

50%

Researcher 12

46%

Professor / Associate Prof. 1

4%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Earth and Planetary Sciences 11

50%

Environmental Science 6

27%

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 3

14%

Mathematics 2

9%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free