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Satellite radiance assimilation using a 3DVAR assimilation system for hurricane Sandy forecasts

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Abstract

In this article, we present an assimilation impact study for forecasting hurricane Sandy using a three‐dimensional variational data assimilation system (3DVAR). In particular, we employ the 3DVAR component of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model and conduct analysis/forecast cycling experiments for “control” and “radiance” assimilation cases for the hurricane Sandy period. In “control” assimilation experiment, only conventional air and surface observations data are assimilated, while, in “radiance” assimilation experiment, along with the conventional air and surface observations data, the satellite radiance data from the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) and the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) sensors are also assimilated. For the radiance assimilation, we employ the community radiative transfer model as the forward operator and perform quality control and bias correction procedure before the radiance data are assimilated. In order to assess the impact of the assimilation experiments, we produce 132-h deterministic forecast starting on 00 UTC October 25, 2012. The results reveal that, in particular, the assimilation of AMSU-A satellite radiances helps to improve the short- to medium-range forecast (up to ~60-h lead time). The forecast skill is degraded in the long-range forecast (beyond 60 h) with the AMSU-A assimilation.

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Acknowledgments

Part of this research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The data for this study are from NOAA’s National Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS) which is maintained at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). The views expressed here are those of the authors solely and do not constitute a statement of policy, decision, or position on behalf of NOAA, NASA, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA

    Tanvir Islam

  2. NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research, College Park, MD, USA

    Tanvir Islam

  3. Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Tanvir Islam

  4. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

    Prashant K. Srivastava

  5. Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Prashant K. Srivastava

  6. Central University of Jammu, Jammu, India

    Dinesh Kumar

  7. Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK

    George P. Petropoulos

  8. School of Geographic Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China

    Qiang Dai

  9. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Lu Zhuo

Authors
  1. Tanvir Islam
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  2. Prashant K. Srivastava
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  3. Dinesh Kumar
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  4. George P. Petropoulos
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  5. Qiang Dai
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  6. Lu Zhuo
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Correspondence to Tanvir Islam.

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Islam, T., Srivastava, P.K., Kumar, D. et al. Satellite radiance assimilation using a 3DVAR assimilation system for hurricane Sandy forecasts. Nat Hazards 82, 845–855 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2221-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2221-4

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