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Data Assimilation and Regional Forecasts using Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) ProfilesIn data sparse regions, remotely-sensed observations can be used to improve analyses, which in turn should lead to better forecasts. One such source comes from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), which, together with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU), provides temperature and moisture profiles with an accuracy comparable to that of radionsondes. The purpose of this poster is to describe a procedure to optimally assimilate AIRS thermodynamic profiles, obtained from the version 5.0 Earth Observing System (EOS) science team retrieval algorithm, into a regional configuration of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model using WRF-Var. The poster focuses on development of background error covariances for the regional domain and background field type, a methodology for ingesting AIRS profiles as separate over-land and over-water retrievals with different error characteristics, and utilization of level-by-level quality indicators to select only the highest quality data. The assessment of the impact of the AIRS profiles on WRF-Var analyses will focus on intelligent use of the quality indicators, optimized tuning of the WRF-Var, and comparison of analysis soundings to radiosondes. The analyses are used to conduct a month-long series of regional forecasts over the continental U.S. The long-term impact of AIRS profiles on forecast will be assessed against NAM analyses and stage IV precipitation data.
Document ID
20090023660
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Zabodsky, Brad
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Chou, Shih-Hung
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Jedlovec, Gary J.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
May 12, 2009
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
M09-0424
Meeting Information
Meeting: Joint Center for Satellite DATA Assimilation (JCSDA) 7th Workshop on Satellite Data Assimilation
Location: Halethorpe, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: May 12, 2009
End Date: May 13, 2009
Sponsors: Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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