Stéphane Laroche

Research Scientist - Data Assimilation and Satellite Meteorology

Current research and/or projects

Contributing to Environment Canada mandate to improve numerical weather prediction through the assimilation of observations, in particular active remote sensing data

Impact studies of the various meteorological observing system on numerical weather predictions
Assessment of the role of the conventional observing network to provide objective guidance for rationalization purposes and for a better use of these sources of data, over North America in particular
Examination of the value of satellite observations over the Pacific Ocean and their role in the short to medium range weather forecasts over Canada and the United States

Professional activities / interests

Lead of the active remote sensing group within the Data Assimilation and Satellite Meteorology section. These types of observations include GPSRO, GPSGB, wind profiler, scatterometers, SAR, radial wind and reflectivity from Doppler radar and spaceborne wind lidar

Member of the users and science team for the RADARSAT-Constellation mission proposed by the Canadian Space Agency

Education and awards

Ph.D. (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences) McGill University, Montreal (1994)

B.Ing. (Physics Engineering) Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal (1986)

Key publications

Laroche, S., P. Gauthier, M. Tanguay, S. Pellerin and J. Morneau. 2007. Impact of the different components of 4D-Var on the global forecast system of the Meteorological Service of Canada. Mon. Wea. Rev. 135: 2355-2364.

Caron, J.-.F, M.K. Yau, S. Laroche and P. Zwack. 2007. The characteristics of key analysis errors. Part I: dynamical balance and comparison with observations. Mon. Wea. Rev. 135: 249-266.

Laroche, S., W. Szyrmer and I. Zawadzki. 2005. A microphysical bulk formulation based on scaling normalization. Part II: data assimilation into physical processes. J. Atmos. Sci. 62: 4222-4237.

St-James, J. and S. Laroche. 2005. Assimilation of wind profiler data in the Canadian Meteorological Centre’s analysis systems. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol. 22: 1181-1194.

Laroche, S., M. Tanguay, A. Zadra and J. Morneau. 2002. Use of adjoint sensitivity analysis to diagnose the CMC 3D-Var analysis performance: a case study. Atmos. Ocean 40: 423-443.