Sensitivity experiments with the spectral HIRLAM and its adjoint

The tangent-linear and the adjoint of the spectral High Resolution Limited Area Model (HIRLAM) have been derived as a first step in the development of a 4-dimensional variational data assimilation system for HIRLAM. The adjoint of the spectral HIRLAM was applied successfully to test the sensitivity of short-range forecast errors to initial conditions. These sensitivity experiments were carried out for a particular case study in addition to a full 5-day period. The results of the sensitivity experiments indicate an ability of the adjoint model to improve the assimilation of baroclinically developing systems and this may open possibilities for application of the adjoint model in a “Poor mans 4-dimensional variational data assimilation” in advance of the implementation of the full 4-dimensional variational data assimilation.