用生成模型模拟气候降水,提升概率预测能力但对极端事件仍不足。
Regional Climate Model Emulation with Diffusion Approaches: What is the Added Value of Generative Machine Learning?

- 采用两阶段扩散框架生成多组高分辨率降水场,增强不确定性表达。
- 生成结果在统计分布和极端事件空间耦合上表现良好,但未覆盖最极端情形。
- 适合需要概率化气候模拟的科研人员,尤其关注极端天气评估者。
气候模拟器为区域气候模型(RCMs)提供低成本替代方案,通过全球气候模型(GCMs)的大尺度预测变量,映射出目标变量(此处为降水)的高分辨率场。机器学习方法,特别是深度学习,计算耗时与能耗远低于运行RCMs。生成模型因其能生成与预测变量一致的本地高分辨率场集合而受到关注,该集合称为不确定范围。本文提出三种贡献:一是引入新的两阶段扩散框架ParamDiffusion,与现有先进扩散方法对比;二是构建符合气候科学需求的综合验证框架,涵盖特定降水事件(包括极端事件);三是评估扩散方法相对于确定性方法的附加价值。对比四种深度学习模型:一个捕捉降水尾部的确定性模型、基于它的参数化概率模型、近期提出的扩散方法,以及将参数模型与扩散模型结合的ParamDiffusion。结果表明,扩散方法在重现降水气候统计特征方面表现出色,包括分布尾部和空间复合极端事件,并生成空间细节丰富的场。然而,所有模型均未在不确定范围内一致覆盖最极端的RCM模拟事件。因此,扩散模型在概率化RCM模拟中前景广阔,但在可靠表征高影响降水极端事件方面仍有改进空间。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Emulators provide a cost-effective alternative to regional climate models (RCMs) by capturing their dynamical downscaling function. They link large-scale predictors simulated by global climate models (GCMs) to RCM-simulated high-resolution fields of the target variable, here precipitation. Machine learning methods, typically deep learning, are cheaper than running RCMs in computation time and energy. Among them, generative models are appealing because they can simulate ensembles of local high-resolution fields consistent with the predictors. This ensemble, which we call the uncertainty envelope, remains to be properly assessed for added value. Here, we make three contributions. First, we introduce ParamDiffusion, a new two-stage diffusion-based framework, and compare it with a state-of-the-art diffusion approach. Second, we expand standard validation through a comprehensive framework aligned with climate-science needs, examining specific precipitation events, including extremes. Third, within this framework, we assess the added value of diffusion approaches relative to deterministic methods. We intercompare four deep-learning models: a deterministic model designed to capture the precipitation tail; a parametric probabilistic model based on it; a recently proposed diffusion approach; and ParamDiffusion, which couples the parametric model with a diffusion model. Our results show that diffusion-based approaches reproduce climatological precipitation statistics with high skill, including distributional tails and spatially compounded extremes, while generating spatially detailed fields. However, none of the assessed models consistently accounts for the most extreme RCM-simulated events within its uncertainty envelope. Diffusion models are therefore promising for probabilistic RCM emulation, but progress is still required before they can reliably represent high-impact precipitation extremes.
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