用因果发现提升飓风强度预测,比传统方法更准且更可靠。
Multidata Causal Discovery for Statistical Hurricane Intensity Forecasting
- 基于多源数据的因果发现框架,识别影响飓风强度的关键因素。
- 在1-5天预报中,因果特征选择显著提升未见飓风的预测精度,尤其前3天。
- 物理意义强的垂直切变、位势涡度等特征被重新发现,适合气象预报应用。
提高热带气旋(TC)强度的统计预报受限于复杂的非线性相互作用及难识别相关预测因子。传统方法侧重相关性或拟合度,常忽略混杂变量,限制对未见飓风的泛化能力。为此,我们采用基于SHIPS的多数据因果发现框架,结合ERA5气象再分析数据构建重复数据集,实验识别并筛选与TC强度变化有因果关联的预测因子。随后训练多个线性回归模型,对比因果特征选择与相关性、随机森林重要性及无特征选择的效果,覆盖1至5天预报时效(24至120小时)。因果特征选择在未见测试案例中持续表现更优,尤其在3天内预报中优势明显。关键因果特征包括垂直切变、中对流层位势涡度和地表湿度条件,这些具有物理意义但常被低估。我们通过添加选定特征构建扩展预测集(SHIPS+),在24、48和72小时预报中提升短期预测能力。引入多层感知机增强非线性后,性能进一步延伸至更长时效,尽管框架为区域性,无需全球预报数据。实际操作测试表明,六个新增因果特征中有三个提升预报技巧,长期预报增益最大。结果表明,因果发现能有效改善TC强度预测,推动更实证的预报发展。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Improving statistical forecasts of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity is limited by complex nonlinear interactions and difficulty in identifying relevant predictors. Conventional methods prioritize correlation or fit, often overlooking confounding variables and limiting generalizability to unseen TCs. To address this, we leverage a multidata causal discovery framework with a replicated dataset based on Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) using ERA5 meteorological reanalysis. We conduct experiments to identify and select predictors causally linked to TC intensity changes. We then train multiple linear regression models to compare causal feature selection with correlation, random forest feature importance, and no feature selection, across five forecast lead times from 1 to 5 days (24 to 120 hours). Causal feature selection consistently outperforms on unseen test cases, especially for lead times shorter than 3 days. Top causal features include vertical shear, mid-tropospheric potential vorticity and surface moisture conditions, which are physically significant yet often underutilized in TC intensity predictions. We build an extended predictor set (SHIPS+) by adding selected features to the standard SHIPS predictors. SHIPS+ yields increased short-term predictive skill at lead times of 24, 48, and 72 hours. Adding nonlinearity using a multilayer perceptron further extends skill to longer lead times, despite our framework being purely regional and not requiring global forecast data. Operational SHIPS tests confirm that three of the six added causally discovered predictors improve forecast skill, with the largest gains at longer lead times. Our results demonstrate that causal discovery improves TC intensity prediction and pave the way toward more empirical forecasts.
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