Optimal perturbation

From Glossary of Meteorology



optimal perturbation

A perturbation that is intended to produce the largest (optimal) change to a forecast measure J.

For example, if J is a measure of forecast error, an optimal perturbation δx could represent a change to the forecast's initial conditions designed to minimize forecast error, given a constraint that δx has magnitude comparable to the typical analysis errors of operational forecast models.
See adjoint sensitivity.


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