Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approach

<p>This study proposes an algorithm designed to model convective cell life cycles, for the purpose of improving the representation of convective storms in rainfall modelling and forecasting. We propose to explicitly model cell property inter-dependence and temporal evolution. To develop the al...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: C.-Y. Tseng, L.-P. Wang, C. Onof
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/1/2025/hess-29-1-2025.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841561105068982272
author C.-Y. Tseng
L.-P. Wang
L.-P. Wang
C. Onof
author_facet C.-Y. Tseng
L.-P. Wang
L.-P. Wang
C. Onof
author_sort C.-Y. Tseng
collection DOAJ
description <p>This study proposes an algorithm designed to model convective cell life cycles, for the purpose of improving the representation of convective storms in rainfall modelling and forecasting. We propose to explicitly model cell property inter-dependence and temporal evolution. To develop the algorithm, 165 effective convective storm events occurring between 2005 and 2017 in Birmingham, UK, were selected. A state-of-the-art storm tracking algorithm was employed to reconstruct convective cell life cycles within each selected event. The investigation of these cell life cycles proceeded in three stages. The initial stage involved statistically characterising individual properties of convective cells, including rainfall intensity, spatial extent at peaks and lifespan. Subsequently, an examination of the inter-correlations amongst these properties was conducted. In the final stage, the focus was on examining the evolution of these cell properties during their lifetimes. We found that the growth and decay rates of cell properties are correlated with the cell properties themselves, hence the need to incorporate this correlation structure into the process of sampling convective cells. To resolve the dependence structures within convective cell evolution, a novel algorithm based on vine copulas is proposed. We show the proposed algorithm's ability to sample cell life cycles, preserving both observed individual cell properties and their dependence structures. To enhance the algorithm's applicability, it is linked to an exponential shape model to synthesise spatial fields for each individual convective cell. This defines a model that can readily be incorporated into rainfall generators and forecasting tools.</p>
format Article
id doaj-art-40364e3932a7474689dff40bd724a6ba
institution Kabale University
issn 1027-5606
1607-7938
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
spelling doaj-art-40364e3932a7474689dff40bd724a6ba2025-01-03T06:31:10ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382025-01-012912510.5194/hess-29-1-2025Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approachC.-Y. Tseng0L.-P. Wang1L.-P. Wang2C. Onof3Department of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106319, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106319, TaiwanImperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United KingdomImperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom<p>This study proposes an algorithm designed to model convective cell life cycles, for the purpose of improving the representation of convective storms in rainfall modelling and forecasting. We propose to explicitly model cell property inter-dependence and temporal evolution. To develop the algorithm, 165 effective convective storm events occurring between 2005 and 2017 in Birmingham, UK, were selected. A state-of-the-art storm tracking algorithm was employed to reconstruct convective cell life cycles within each selected event. The investigation of these cell life cycles proceeded in three stages. The initial stage involved statistically characterising individual properties of convective cells, including rainfall intensity, spatial extent at peaks and lifespan. Subsequently, an examination of the inter-correlations amongst these properties was conducted. In the final stage, the focus was on examining the evolution of these cell properties during their lifetimes. We found that the growth and decay rates of cell properties are correlated with the cell properties themselves, hence the need to incorporate this correlation structure into the process of sampling convective cells. To resolve the dependence structures within convective cell evolution, a novel algorithm based on vine copulas is proposed. We show the proposed algorithm's ability to sample cell life cycles, preserving both observed individual cell properties and their dependence structures. To enhance the algorithm's applicability, it is linked to an exponential shape model to synthesise spatial fields for each individual convective cell. This defines a model that can readily be incorporated into rainfall generators and forecasting tools.</p>https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/1/2025/hess-29-1-2025.pdf
spellingShingle C.-Y. Tseng
L.-P. Wang
L.-P. Wang
C. Onof
Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approach
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
title Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approach
title_full Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approach
title_fullStr Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approach
title_full_unstemmed Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approach
title_short Modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula-based approach
title_sort modelling convective cell life cycles with a copula based approach
url https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/1/2025/hess-29-1-2025.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT cytseng modellingconvectivecelllifecycleswithacopulabasedapproach
AT lpwang modellingconvectivecelllifecycleswithacopulabasedapproach
AT lpwang modellingconvectivecelllifecycleswithacopulabasedapproach
AT conof modellingconvectivecelllifecycleswithacopulabasedapproach