Improving seasonal precipitation and streamflow forecasts for Java, Indonesia

Summary

This thesis focuses on improving seasonal rainfall forecasts through post-processing techniques, with a particular emphasis on Java, Indonesia. The primary objective of this research is to develop and evaluate bias correction methods for seasonal precipitation forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Seasonal Forecasting System, Version 5 (SEAS5). By improving forecast skills for critical agricultural months, this study aims to provide insights and tools that support better decision-making and planning. Chapter one provides the background and introduction, focusing on the importance of improving precipitation model forecasts with post-processing techniques and the significance of seasonal forecasting. This chapter lays the groundwork for the rest of the thesis. Chapter two attempts to correct the biases in seasonal precipitation forecasts from the ECMWF’s SEAS5 system for Java, Indonesia, using empirical quantile mapping (EQM). The study demonstrates that bias correction enhances forecast accuracy, particularly during critical agricultural months (July-September), and could support agricultural planning. Chapter three continues with the post-processing of seasonal forecasts, comparing a more advanced statistical method with the traditional EQM approach. It also investigates the impact of climate factors such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Dipole Mode (IOD), Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), regional Sea Surface Temperature (SST), and geographical features on forecast accuracy, evaluating forecasts from 1981 to 2010, focusing on July to October. Chapter four emphasizes the importance of seasonal forecasts for hydrological models, particularly in predicting streamflow. It evaluates the calibration of streamflow forecasts with lead times up to four months, using EQM-corrected rainfall data as the primary input. Various metrics, including Continuous Ranked Probability Score Skill Score (CRPSS), Brier Skill Score (BSS), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Relative Operating Characteristic Score (ROCS), are used for verification. This chapter marks a pioneering effort in integrating hydrological models with seasonal rainfall forecasts in Indonesia. Chapter five serves as a comprehensive overview of the primary findings and discussions, exploring how the EQM bias correction method can improve the seasonal rainfall forecasts of the ECMWF model for Java and the potential forecast skill improvements when incorporating multiple predictors in the statistical postprocessing of SEAS5 rainfall forecasts. This chapter also evaluates the significance of these bias correction methods on seasonal rainfall and streamflow forecasts. Additionally, it outlines future research directions to enhance seasonal forecasting in Indonesia.