Assimilation of SSM/I Radiances in the NCEP Global Data Assimilation System

2006 ◽  
Vol 134 (9) ◽  
pp. 2612-2631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kozo Okamoto ◽  
John C. Derber
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Bias Correction ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Average Error ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Radiance Data ◽  
Global Data

Abstract A technique for the assimilation of Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) global data assimilation and forecast system is described. Because the radiative transfer model used does not yet allow for cloud/rain effects, it is crucial to properly identify and exclude (or correct) cloud/rain-contaminated radiances using quality control (QC) and bias correction procedures. The assimilation technique is unique in that both procedures take into account the effect of the liquid cloud on the difference between observed and simulated brightness temperature for each SSM/I channel. The estimate of the total column cloud liquid water from observed radiances is used in a frequency-dependent cloud detection component of the QC and as a predictor in the bias correction algorithm. Also, a microwave emissivity Jacobian model with respect to wind speed is developed for oceanic radiances. It was found that the surface wind information in the radiance data can be extracted through the emissivity model Jacobian rather than producing and including a separate SSM/I wind speed retrieval. A two-month-long data assimilation experiment from July to August 2004 using NCEP’s Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation analysis system and the NCEP operational forecast model was performed. In general, the assimilation of SSM/I radiance has a significant positive impact on the analyses and forecasts. Moisture is added in the Northern Hemisphere and Tropics and is slightly reduced in the Southern Hemisphere. The moisture added appears to be slightly excessive in the Tropics verified against rawinsonde observations. Nevertheless, the assimilation of SSM/I radiance data reduces model spinup of precipitation and substantially improves the dynamic fields, especially in measures of the vector wind error at 200 hPa in the Tropics. In terms of hurricane tracks, SSM/I radiance assimilation produces more cases with smaller errors and reduces the average error. No disruption of the Hadley circulation is found from the introduction of the SSM/I radiance data.

scholarly journals Wind Speed Retrieval Based on Sea Surface Roughness Measurements from Spaceborne Microwave Radiometers

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungwook Hong ◽  
Inchul Shin
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Surface Emissivity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Data

AbstractWind speed is the main factor responsible for the increase in ocean thermal emission because sea surface emissivity strongly depends on surface roughness. An alternative approach to estimate the surface wind speed (SWS) as a function of surface roughness is developed in this study. For the sea surface emissivity, the state-of-the-art forward Fast Microwave Emissivity Model, version 3 (FASTEM-3), which is applicable for a wide range of microwave frequencies at incidence angles of less than 60°, is used. Special Sensor Microwave Imager and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) observations are simulated using FASTEM-3 and the Global Data Assimilation and Prediction System operated by the Korea Meteorological Administration. The performance of the SWS retrieval algorithm is assessed by comparing its SWS output to that of the Global Data Assimilation System operated by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The surface roughness is computed using the Hong approximation and characteristics of the polarization ratio. When compared with the Tropical Atmosphere–Ocean data, the bias and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the SWS outputs from the proposed wind speed retrieval algorithm were found to be 0.32 m s−1 (bias) and 0.37 m s−1 (RMSE) for the AMSR-E 18.7-GHz channel, 0.38 m s−1 (bias) and 0.42 m s−1 (RMSE) for the AMSR-E 23.8-GHz channel, and 0.45 m s−1 (bias) and 0.49 m s−1 (RMSE) for the AMSR-E 36.5-GHz channel. Consequently, this research provides an alternative method to retrieve the SWS with minimal a priori information on the sea surface.

scholarly journals WRF Model Experiments on the Antarctic Atmosphere in Winter

2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (4) ◽  
pp. 1279-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esa-Matti Tastula ◽  
Timo Vihma
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Surface Layer ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Surface Pressure ◽  
Mesoscale Model ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Temperature Bias ◽  
Radiation Parameterizations

Abstract The standard and polar versions 3.1.1 of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, both initialized by the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40), were run in Antarctica for July 1998. Four different boundary layer–surface layer–radiation scheme combinations were used in the standard WRF. The model results were validated against observations of the 2-m temperature, surface pressure, and 10-m wind speed at 9 coastal and 2 inland stations. The best choice for boundary layer and radiation parameterizations of the standard WRF turned out to be the Yonsei University boundary layer scheme in conjunction with the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5) surface layer scheme and the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model for longwave radiation. The respective temperature bias was on the order of 3°C less than the biases obtained with the other combinations. Increasing the minimum value for eddy diffusivity did, however, improve the performance of the asymmetric convective scheme by 0.8°C. Averaged over the 11 stations, the error growths in 24-h forecasts were almost identical for the standard and Polar WRF, but in 9-day forecasts Polar WRF gave a smaller 2-m temperature bias. For the Vostok station, however, the standard WRF gave a less positively biased 24-h temperature forecast. On average, the polar version gave the least biased surface pressure simulation. The wind speed simulation was characterized by low correlation values, especially under weak winds and for stations surrounded by complex topography.

scholarly journals A Two-Season Impact Study of the WindSat Surface Wind Retrievals in the NCEP Global Data Assimilation System

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 931-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Bi ◽  
James A. Jung ◽  
Michael C. Morgan ◽  
John F. Le Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Experimental Simulation ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Surface Winds ◽  
Control Simulation ◽  
Wind Retrievals ◽  
Global Data ◽  
Assimilation System

Abstract A two-season observing system experiment (OSE) was used to quantify the impacts of assimilating the WindSat surface winds product developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). The impacts of assimilating these surface winds were assessed by comparing the forecast results through 168 h for the months of October 2006 and March 2007. The National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Global Data Assimilation/Global Forecast System (GDAS/GFS) was used, at a resolution of T382-64 layers, as the assimilation system and forecast model for these experiments. A control simulation utilizing all the data types assimilated in the operational GDAS was compared to an experimental simulation that added the WindSat surface winds. Quality control procedures required to assimilate the surface winds are discussed. Anomaly correlations (ACs) of geopotential heights at 1000 and 500 hPa were evaluated for the control and experiment during both seasons. The geographical distribution of the forecast impacts (FIs) on the wind field and temperature fields at 10-m height and 500 hPa is also discussed. The results of this study show that assimilating the surface wind retrievals from the WindSat satellite improve the NCEP GFS wind and temperature forecasts. A positive FI, which suggests that the error growth of the experiment is slower than the control, has been realized in the NCEP GDAS/GFS wind and temperature forecasts through 24 h. The WindSat experiment AC scores are similar to the control simulation AC scores until the day 6 forecasts, when the improvements in the WindSat experiment become greater for both seasons and in most of the cases.

scholarly journals Parameterization of Vegetation Scattering Albedo in the Tau-Omega Model for Soil Moisture Retrieval on Croplands

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 2939
Author(s):  
Chang-Hwan Park ◽  
Thomas Jagdhuber ◽  
Andreas Colliander ◽  
Johan Lee ◽  
Aaron Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Microwave Remote Sensing ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Vegetation Fraction ◽  
Omega Model

An accurate radiative transfer model (RTM) is essential for the retrieval of soil moisture (SM) from microwave remote sensing data, such as the passive microwave measurements from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. This mission delivers soil moisture products based upon L-band brightness temperature data, via retrieval algorithms for surface and root-zone soil moisture, the latter is retrieved using data assimilation and model support. We found that the RTM based on the tau-omega (τ-ω) model can suffer from significant errors over croplands in the simulation of brightness temperature (Tb) (in average between −9.4K and +12.0K for single channel algorithm (SCA); −8K and +9.7K for dual-channel algorithm (DCA)) if the vegetation scattering albedo (omega) is set constant and temporal variations are not considered. In order to reduce this uncertainty, we propose a time-varying parameterization of omega for the widely established zeroth order radiative transfer τ-ω model. The main assumption is that omega can be expressed by a functional relationship between vegetation optical depth (tau) and the Green Vegetation Fraction (GVF). Assuming allometry in the tau-omega relationship, a power-law function was established and it is supported by correlating measurements of tau and GVF. With this relationship, both tau and omega increase during the development of vegetation. The application of the proposed time-varying vegetation scattering albedo results in a consistent improvement for the unbiased root mean square error of 16% for SCA and 15% for DCA. The reduction for positive and negative biases was 45% and 5% for SCA and 26% and 12% for DCA, respectively. This indicates that vegetation dynamics within croplands are better represented by a time-varying single scattering albedo. Based on these results, we anticipate that the time-varying omega within the tau-omega model will help to mitigate potential estimation errors in the current SMAP soil moisture products (SCA and DCA). Furthermore, the improved tau-omega model might serve as a more accurate observation operator for SMAP data assimilation in weather and climate prediction model.

SHDOMPPDA: A Radiative Transfer Model for Cloudy Sky Data Assimilation

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 3854-3864 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Franklin Evans
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Spherical Harmonics ◽  
Forward Model ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Discrete Ordinate Method ◽  
Discrete Ordinate ◽  
Plane Parallel

Abstract The spherical harmonics discrete ordinate method for plane-parallel data assimilation (SHDOMPPDA) model is an unpolarized plane-parallel radiative transfer forward model, with corresponding tangent linear and adjoint models, suitable for use in assimilating cloudy sky visible and infrared radiances. It is derived from the spherical harmonics discrete ordinate method plane-parallel (SHDOMPP, also described in this article) version of the spherical harmonics discrete ordinate method (SHDOM) model for three-dimensional atmospheric radiative transfer. The inputs to the SHDOMPPDA forward model are profiles of pressure, temperature, water vapor, and mass mixing ratio and number concentration for a number of hydrometeor species. Hydrometeor optical properties, including detailed phase functions, are determined from lookup tables as a function of mass mean radius. The SHDOMPP and SHDOMPPDA algorithms and construction of the tangent-linear and adjoint models are described. The SHDOMPPDA forward model is validated against the Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer Model (DISORT) by comparing upwelling radiances in multiple directions from 100 cloud model columns at visible and midinfrared wavelengths. For this test in optically thick clouds the computational time for SHDOMPPDA is comparable to DISORT for visible reflection, and roughly 5 times faster for thermal emission. The tangent linear and adjoint models are validated by comparison to finite differencing of the forward model.

scholarly journals Advanced Doubling–Adding Method for Radiative Transfer in Planetary Atmospheres

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 3459-3465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quanhua Liu ◽  
Fuzhong Weng
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Thermal Source ◽  
New Development ◽  
Joint Center ◽  
Computational Resources ◽  
Computation Codes

The doubling–adding method (DA) is one of the most accurate tools for detailed multiple-scattering calculations. The principle of the method goes back to the nineteenth century in a problem dealing with reflection and transmission by glass plates. Since then the doubling–adding method has been widely used as a reference tool for other radiative transfer models. The method has never been used in operational applications owing to tremendous demand on computational resources from the model. This study derives an analytical expression replacing the most complicated thermal source terms in the doubling–adding method. The new development is called the advanced doubling–adding (ADA) method. Thanks also to the efficiency of matrix and vector manipulations in FORTRAN 90/95, the advanced doubling–adding method is about 60 times faster than the doubling–adding method. The radiance (i.e., forward) computation code of ADA is easily translated into tangent linear and adjoint codes for radiance gradient calculations. The simplicity in forward and Jacobian computation codes is very useful for operational applications and for the consistency between the forward and adjoint calculations in satellite data assimilation. ADA is implemented into the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) developed at the U.S. Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation.

scholarly journals Long term Observations minus Background monitoring of ground-based microwave radiometer network. Part 1: Brightness Temperatures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco De Angelis ◽  
Domenico Cimini ◽  
Ulrich Löhnert ◽  
Olivier Caumont ◽  
Alexander Haefele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Line Center ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Observation Operator ◽  
Brightness Temperatures

Abstract. Ground-based microwave radiometers (MWRs) offer the capability to provide continuous, high-temporal resolution observations of the atmospheric thermodynamic state in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) with low maintenance. This makes MWR an ideal instrument to supplement radiosonde and satellite observations when initializing numerical weather prediction (NWP) models through data assimilation. State-of-the-art data assimilation systems (e.g., variational schemes) require an accurate representation of the differences between model (background) and observations, which are then weighted by their respective errors to provide the best analysis of the true atmospheric state. In this perspective, one source of information is contained in the statistics of the differences between observations and their background counterparts (O-B). Monitoring of O-B statistics is crucial to detect and remove systematic errors coming from the measurements, the observation operator, and/or the NWP model. This work illustrates a 1-year O-B analysis for MWR observations in clear sky conditions for an European-wide network of six MWRs. Observations include MWR brightness temperatures (TB) measured by the two most common types of MWR instruments. Background profiles are extracted from the French convective scale model AROME-France before being converted into TB. The observation operator used to map atmospheric profiles into TB is the fast radiative transfer model RTTOV-gb. It is shown that O-B monitoring can effectively detect instrument malfunctions. O-B statistics (bias, standard deviation and root-mean-square) for water vapor channels (22.24–30.0 GHz) are quite consistent for all the instrumental sites, decreasing from the 22.24 GHz line center (~ 2–2.5 K) towards the high-frequency wing (~ 0.8–1.3 K). Statistics for zenith and lower elevation observations show a similar trend, though values increase with increasing air mass. O-B statistics for temperature channels show different behaviour for relatively transparent (51–53 GHz) and opaque channels (54-58 GHz). Opaque channels show lower uncertainties (

scholarly journals Bias Correction of Chinese Fengyun-3C Microwave Humidity and Temperature Sounder Measurements in Retrieval of Atmospheric Parameters

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiurui He ◽  
Zhenzhan Wang ◽  
Jieying He
Keyword(s):  
Bias Correction ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Atmospheric Temperature ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Oxygen Absorption ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Peak Weight

The Microwave Humidity and Temperature sounder (MWHTS) on board the Fengyun (FY)-3C satellite measure the outgoing radiance form the Earth surface and atmospheric constituents. MWHTS makes measurements in the isolated oxygen absorption line near 118 GHz and the vicinity of strong water vapor line around 183 GHz, can provide fine vertical distribution structure of both atmospheric humidity and temperature. However, in order to obtain the accurate soundings of humidity and temperature by the physical retrieval method, bias between the observed radiance and those simulated by radiative transfer model from the background or first guess profiles must be correct. In this study, two bias correction methods are developed through the correlation analysis between MWHTS measurements and air mass identified by the first guess profiles of the physical inversion, one is the linear regression correction (LRC) and the other is neural networks correction (NNC), representing the linear and nonlinear nature between MWHTS measurements and air mass, respectively. Both correction methods have been applied to MWHTS observed brightness temperatures over the geographic area (180° W-180° E, 60° S-60° N). The corrected results are evaluated by the probability density function of the difference between corrected observations and simulated values and the root mean square error (RMSE) with respect to simulated observations. The numerical results show that the NNC method perform better, especially in MWHTS channels 1 and 7-9 whose peak weight function heights are close to the surface. In order to assess the effects of bias correction methods proposed in this study on the retrieval accuracy, a one-dimensional variational system was built and applied to the MWHTS uncorrected and corrected brightness temperatures to estimated atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles, The retrieval results show that the NNC has better performance which is to be expected. An indication of the stability and robustness of NNC method is given which suggests that the NNC method has promising application perspectives in the physical retrieval.

scholarly journals Development of an OMI AI data assimilation scheme for aerosol modeling over bright surfaces – a step toward direct radiance assimilation in the UV spectrum

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianglong Zhang ◽  
Robert J. D. Spurr ◽  
Jeffrey S. Reid ◽  
Peng Xian ◽  
Peter R. Colarco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Uv Spectrum ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
Monitoring Instrument ◽  
Radiance Assimilation ◽  
Data Assimilation Scheme ◽  
Assimilation Scheme

Abstract. Using the Vector LInearized Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer (VLIDORT) code as the main driver for forward model simulations, a first-of-its-kind data assimilation scheme has been developed for assimilating Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aerosol index (AI) measurements into the Naval Aerosol Analysis and Predictive System (NAAPS). This study suggests both RMSE and absolute errors can be significantly reduced in NAAPS analyses with the use of OMI AI data assimilation, when compared to values from NAAPS natural runs. Improvements in model simulations demonstrate the utility of OMI AI data assimilation for improving the accuracy of aerosol model analysis over cloudy regions and bright surfaces. However, the OMI AI data assimilation alone does not out-perform aerosol data assimilation that uses passive-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) products over cloud free skies and dark surfaces. Further, as AI assimilation requires the deployment of a fully-multiple-scatter-aware radiative transfer model in the forward simulations, computational burden is an issue. Nevertheless, the newly-developed modeling system contains the necessary ingredients for assimilation of radiances in the ultra-violet (UV) spectrum, and our study shows the potential of direct radiance assimilation at both UV and visible spectrums, possibly coupled with AOD assimilation, for aerosol applications in the future. Additional data streams can be added, including data from TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) and eventually with the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document