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Improving Regional Forecast by Assimilating Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) Profiles into WRF ModelIn data sparse regions, remotely-sensed observations can be used to improve analyses and produce improved forecasts. One such source comes from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS), which together with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU), represents one of the most advanced space-based atmospheric sounding systems. The purpose of this paper is to describe a procedure to optimally assimilate high resolution AIRS profile data into a regional configuration of the Advanced Research WRF (ARW) version 2.2 using WRF-Var. The paper focuses on development of background error covariances for the regional domain and background type, and an optimal methodology for ingesting AIRS temperature and moisture profiles as separate overland and overwater retrievals with different error characteristics. The AIRS thermodynamic profiles are derived from the version 5.0 Earth Observing System (EOS) science team retrieval algorithm and contain information about the quality of each temperature layer. The quality indicators were used to select the highest quality temperature and moisture data for each profile location and pressure level. The analyses were then used to conduct a month-long series of regional forecasts over the continental U.S. The long-term impacts of AIRS profiles on forecast were assessed against verifying NAM analyses and stage IV precipitation data.
Document ID
20090028685
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Chou, Shih-Hung
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Zavodsky, Brad
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Jedlovec, Gary J.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
June 23, 2009
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Report/Patent Number
M09-0499
Meeting Information
Meeting: 20th Annual WRF Users'' Workshop/NCAR
Location: Boulder, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: June 23, 2009
End Date: June 26, 2009
Sponsors: National Center for Atmospheric Research
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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