Kolloquium über anwendungsorientierte Statistik
Universität und ETH Zürich
Seminar für Statistik, ETHZ

Using non-stationary hidden Markov models to downscale general circulation models

Prof. P. Guttorp, University of Washington

29. Oktober 1998, 16.15 -- ca. 17.30
Hauptgebäude der Universität, Hörsaal E 18

Abstract

Joint work with James P. Hughes, National Research Center for Statistics and the Environment University of Washington.
Simulations of the Earth's climate typically does not capture small-scale features such as precipitation very well. Yet, in order to be able to assess the consequences of changes in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, it is important to be able to produce realistic precipitation forecasts for local areas. A method for doing this has been developed over the last several years at the University of Washington, and consists of a hidden Markov model, where the hidden states (called weather states) are assumed to develop according to a non-stationary Markov chain, with transition probabilities dependent on atmospheric conditions such as surface pressure and geopotential height. Since these variable are predicted comparatively well by general circulation models, this is a stochastic way of downscaling the precipitation aspect of these models.
Further information: Christina Künzli, Statistics Seminar of ETH Zurich