Large-Scale Forcing Data from the R/V Roger Revelle

Published: 10 October 2014

Constrained variational analysis forcing data centered at the R/V Roger Revelle are now available for the Dynamics of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) and the ARM Madden-Julian Oscillation [MJO] Investigation Experiment [AMIE] on Gan Island, or AMIE-Gan field campaign.

Due to the lack of a sounding array on the Revelle, these forcing data were developed based on the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts analyses, which were then constrained with observed surface rainfall through the constrained variational objective analysis. This approach is described in Zhang and Lin (1997), Zhang et al. (2001), and Xie et al. (2004). Two versions of the forcing data were provided constrained by surface precipitation measurements retrieved from Colorado State University’s Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) radar and Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar to address uncertainties in surface rainfall.

The analysis data cover the period from October 2 to December 31, 2011. The forcing data represent an average over the analysis domain centered on the Revelle ship with a diameter of 300 km. The data sets are in both ASCII and netCDF formats for the 300 km domain.

As always, feedback and use of the data are welcomed and encouraged. For questions, or to report data problems, please contact Shaocheng Xie or Yunyan Zhang.

To access the Revelle forcing data set, log into the ARM Data Archive. (Request an account here.)