The First Coupled Historical Forecasting Project (CHFP1)

A set of retrospective multi-seasonal ensemble predictions based on a coupled global atmosphere-ocean model is described. These predictions, designated as the first coupled Historical Forecasting Project or CHFP1, are produced with the climate model CGCM3.1 of the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis using a very simple initialization procedure in which model sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are nudged toward the observed values during a multi-year period preceding the beginning of a forecast. This procedure, in addition to constraining initial SSTs to be close to observations, initializes equatorial Pacific zonal wind stress and thermocline depth with some skill. The ability of the subsequent forecasts to predict the evolution of SSTs, particularly in the equatorial Pacific, and surface air temperatures globally and in Canada is assessed. The results are compared with those of the second Historical Forecasting Project or HFP2, which uses a two-tier strategy in which model SSTs are externally specified. Skill of CHFP1 forecasts, though generally modest, exceeds those of HFP2 in some cases, despite the larger multi-model ensemble used in HFP2. CHFP1 represents an initial step in development directed toward a coupled operational seasonal prediction system for Canada.