Articles | Volume 26, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-5769-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-5769-2026
Research article
 | 
13 Nov 2026
Research article |  | 13 Nov 2026

The operational 3DEnVar data assimilation scheme for the Météo-France convective scale model AROME-France

Pierre Brousseau, Valérie Vogt, Etienne Arbogast, Maud Martet, Guillaume Thomas, and Loïk Berre

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Cited articles

Amodei, M., Sanchez, I., and Stein, J.: Verification of the French operational high-resolution model AROME with the regional Brier probability score, Meteorol. Appl., 22, 731–745, https://doi.org/10.1002/met.1510, 2015. a
Auger, L., Dupont, O., Hagelin, S., Brousseau, P., and Brovelli, P.: AROME–NWC: a new nowcasting tool based on an operational mesoscale forecasting system, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 141, 1603–1611, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2463, 2015. a
Ballard, S. P., Li, Z., Simonin, D., and Caron, J.-F.: Performance of 4D-Var NWP-based nowcasting of precipitation at the Met Office for summer 2012, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 142, 472–487, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2665, 2016. a
Berre, L.: Estimation of synoptic and mesoscale forecast error covariances in a limited area model, Mon. Weather Rev., 128, 644–667, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(2000)128<0644:EOSAMF>2.0.CO;2, 2000. a, b
Berre, L. and Arbogast, E.: Formulation and use of 3D-hybrid and 4D-hybrid ensemble covariances in the Météo-France global data assimilation system, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 150, 416–435, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.4603, 2024. a
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Short summary
Since October 2024, the Météo-France operational convective scale model AROME-France uses a three-dimensional ensemble-based variational data assimilation system. This allows observations to be spatialised in a flow-dependent way, leading to improved initial conditions. Numerous sensitivity studies allowed to configure this scheme in an operational context. Major positive impacts on the forecast quality have been demonstrated over a long period and on several severe meteorological situations.
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