Downscaling near-surface atmospheric fields with multi-objective Genetic Programming. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zerenner, Tanja; Venema, Victor; Friederichs, Petra; Simmer, Clemens
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 84(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Statistical downscaling -- Disaggregation -- Evolutionary computation -- Machine learning -- Pareto optimality -- Coupled modeling; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.06.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: We present a new Genetic Programming based method to derive downscaling rules (i.e., functions or short programs) generating realistic high-resolution fields of atmospheric state variables near the surface given coarser-scale atmospheric information and high-resolution information on land surface properties. Such downscaling rules can be applied in coupled subsurface-land surface-atmosphere simulations or to generate high-resolution atmospheric input data for offline applications of land surface and subsurface models. Multiple features of the high-resolution fields, such as the spatial distribution of subgrid-scale variance, serve as objectives. The downscaling rules take an interpretable form and contain on average about 5 mathematical operations. The method is applied to downscale 10 m-temperature fields from 2.8 km to 400 m grid resolution. A large part of the spatial variability is reproduced, also in stable nighttime situations, which generate very heterogeneous near-surface temperature fields in regions with distinct topography. Highlights: A GP based method for the downscaling of coherent spatial fields is presented. Multiple characteristics of high-resolution fields are optimized simultaneously. Fine-scale structures are estimated from high-resolution land surface data. Spatial variability of near-surface temperature is well reproduced.