Evaluating vector winds over eastern China in 2022 predicted by the CMA-MESO model and ECMWF forecast

Abstract

Vector winds play a crucial role in weather and climate, as well as the effective utilization of wind energy resources. However, limited research has been conducted on treating the wind field as a vector field in the evaluation of numerical weather prediction models. In this study, we treat vector winds as a whole by employing a vector field evaluation method, and evaluate the mesoscale model of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA-MESO) and ECMWF forecast, with reference to ERA5 reanalysis, in terms of multiple aspects of vector winds over eastern China in 2022. The results show that the ECMWF forecast is superior to CMA-MESO in predicting the spatial distribution and intensity of 10-m vector winds. Both models overestimate the wind speed in East China, and CMA-MESO overestimates the wind speed to a greater extent. The forecasting skill of the vector wind field in both models decreases with increasing lead time. The forecasting skill of CMA-MESO fluctuates more and decreases faster than that of the ECMWF forecast. There is a significant negative correlation between the model vector wind forecasting skill and terrain height. This study provides a scientific evaluation of the local application of vector wind forecasts of the CMA-MESO model and ECMWF forecast.