Effect of Enhanced Satellite-Derived Atmospheric Motion Vectors on Numerical Weather Prediction in East Asia Using an Adjoint-Based Observation Impact Method

Abstract When producing forecasts by integrating a numerical weather prediction model from an analysis, not all observations assimilated into the analysis improve the forecast. Therefore, the impact of particular observations on the forecast needs to be evaluated quantitatively to provide relevant information about the impact of the observing system. One way to assess the observation impact is to use an adjoint-based method that estimates the impact of each assimilated observation on reducing the error of the forecast. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model and its adjoint are used to evaluate the impact of several types of observations, including enhanced satellite-derived atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) that were made available during observation campaigns for two typhoons: Sinlaku and Jangmi, which both formed in the western North Pacific during September 2008. Without the assimilation of enhanced AMV data, radiosonde observations and satellite radiances show the highest total observation impact on forecasts. When enhanced AMVs are included in the assimilation, the observation impact of AMVs is increased and the impact of radiances is decreased. The highest ratio of beneficial observations comes from GPS Precipitable Water (GPSPW) without the assimilation of enhanced AMVs. Most observations express a ratio of approximately 60%. Enhanced AMVs improve forecast fields when tracking the typhoon centers of Sinlaku and Jangmi. Both the model background and the analysis are improved by the continuous cycling of enhanced AMVs, with a greater reduction in forecast error along the background trajectory than the analysis trajectory. Thus, while the analysis–forecast system is improved by assimilating these observations, the total observation impact is smaller as a result of the improvement.

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Mesoscale Numerical Weather Prediction Models Used in Support of Infrared Hyperspectral Measurement Simulation and Product Algorithm Development

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology ◽

10.1175/jtech1994.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 585-601 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jason A. Otkin ◽

Derek J. Posselt ◽

Erik R. Olson ◽

Hung-Lung Huang ◽

James E. Davies ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Vapor ◽

Numerical Weather Prediction ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Processing System ◽

Motion Vectors ◽

Numerical Weather ◽

Study Results ◽

Atmospheric Motion ◽

End To End ◽

Atmospheric Motion Vectors

Abstract A novel application of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models within an end-to-end processing system used to demonstrate advanced hyperspectral satellite technologies and instrument concepts is presented. As part of this system, sophisticated NWP models are used to generate simulated atmospheric profile datasets with fine horizontal and vertical resolution. The simulated datasets, which are treated as the “truth” atmosphere, are subsequently passed through a sophisticated forward radiative transfer model to generate simulated top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances across a broad spectral region. Atmospheric motion vectors and temperature and water vapor retrievals generated from the TOA radiances are then compared with the original model-simulated atmosphere to demonstrate the potential utility of future hyperspectral wind and retrieval algorithms. Representative examples of TOA radiances, atmospheric motion vectors, and temperature and water vapor retrievals are shown to illustrate the use of the simulated datasets. Case study results demonstrate that the numerical models are able to realistically simulate mesoscale cloud, temperature, and water vapor structures present in the real atmosphere. Because real hyperspectral radiance measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution are not available for large geographical domains, the simulated TOA radiance datasets are the only viable alternative that can be used to demonstrate the new hyperspectral technologies and capabilities. As such, sophisticated mesoscale models are critically important for the demonstration of the future end-to-end processing system.

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A Global Ocean Observing System for Measuring Sea Level Atmospheric Pressure: Effects and Impacts on Numerical Weather Prediction

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society ◽

10.1175/bams-d-15-00080.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 98 (2) ◽

pp. 231-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Luca Centurioni ◽

András Horányi ◽

Carla Cardinali ◽

Etienne Charpentier ◽

Rick Lumpkin

Keyword(s):

Sea Level ◽

Surface Pressure ◽

Numerical Weather Prediction ◽

Atmospheric Pressure ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Global Ocean ◽

Numerical Weather ◽

Observation Impact ◽

The Impact

Abstract Since 1994 the U.S. Global Drifter Program (GDP) and its international partners cooperating within the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have been deploying drifters equipped with barometers primarily in the extratropical regions of the world’s oceans in support of operational weather forecasting. To date, the impact of the drifter data isolated from other sources has never been studied. This essay quantifies and discusses the effect and the impact of in situ sea level atmospheric pressure (SLP) data from the global drifter array on numerical weather prediction using observing system experiments and forecast sensitivity observation impact studies. The in situ drifter SLP observations are extremely valuable for anchoring the global surface pressure field and significantly contributing to accurate marine weather forecasts, especially in regions where no other in situ observations are available, for example, the Southern Ocean. Furthermore, the forecast sensitivity observation impact analysis indicates that the SLP drifter data are the most valuable per-observation contributor of the Global Observing System (GOS). All these results give evidence that surface pressure observations of drifting buoys are essential ingredients of the GOS and that their quantity, quality, and distribution should be preserved as much as possible in order to avoid any analysis and forecast degradations. The barometer upgrade program offered by the GDP, under which GDP-funded drifters can be equipped with partner-funded accurate air pressure sensors, is a practical example of how the DBCP collaboration is executed. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the GDP to discuss upgrade opportunities.

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The Sentinel-3 SLSTR Atmospheric Motion Vectors Product at EUMETSAT

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13091702 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1702

Author(s):

Kévin Barbieux ◽

Olivier Hautecoeur ◽

Maurizio De Bartolomei ◽

Manuel Carranza ◽

Régis Borde

Keyword(s):

Land Surface ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Forecast Model ◽

Low Earth Orbit ◽

Reference Image ◽

Motion Vectors ◽

Infrared Imager ◽

Atmospheric Motion ◽

Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽

Leo Satellite

Atmospheric Motion Vectors (AMVs) are an important input to many Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. EUMETSAT derives AMVs from several of its orbiting satellites, including the geostationary satellites (Meteosat), and its Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The algorithm extracting the AMVs uses pairs or triplets of images, and tracks the motion of clouds or water vapour features from one image to another. Currently, EUMETSAT LEO satellite AMVs are retrieved from georeferenced images from the Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on board the Metop satellites. EUMETSAT is currently preparing the operational release of an AMV product from the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) on board the Sentinel-3 satellites. The main innovation in the processing, compared with AVHRR AMVs, lies in the co-registration of pairs of images: the images are first projected on an equal-area grid, before applying the AMV extraction algorithm. This approach has multiple advantages. First, individual pixels represent areas of equal sizes, which is crucial to ensure that the tracking is consistent throughout the processed image, and from one image to another. Second, this allows features that would otherwise leave the frame of the reference image to be tracked, thereby allowing more AMVs to be derived. Third, the same framework could be used for every LEO satellite, allowing an overall consistency of EUMETSAT AMV products. In this work, we present the results of this method for SLSTR by comparing the AMVs to the forecast model. We validate our results against AMVs currently derived from AVHRR and the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI). The release of the operational SLSTR AMV product is expected in 2022.

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On the Impact of Unmanned Aerial System Observations on Numerical Weather Prediction in the Coastal Zone

Monthly Weather Review ◽

10.1175/mwr-d-17-0028.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 146 (2) ◽

pp. 599-622 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

David D. Flagg ◽

James D. Doyle ◽

Teddy R. Holt ◽

Daniel P. Tyndall ◽

Clark M. Amerault ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Boundary Layer ◽

Data Assimilation ◽

Numerical Weather Prediction ◽

Research Laboratory ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Ocean Model ◽

Naval Research ◽

Unmanned Aerial System ◽

Numerical Weather ◽

The Impact

Abstract The Trident Warrior observational field campaign conducted off the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast in July 2013 included the deployment of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) with several payloads on board for atmospheric and oceanic observation. These UAS observations, spanning seven flights over 5 days in the lowest 1550 m above mean sea level, were assimilated into a three-dimensional variational data assimilation (DA) system [the Naval Research Laboratory Atmospheric Variational Data Assimilation System (NAVDAS)] used to generate analyses for a numerical weather prediction model [the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS)] with a coupled ocean model [the Naval Research Laboratory Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM)]. The impact of the assimilated UAS observations on short-term atmospheric prediction performance is evaluated and quantified. Observations collected from 50 radiosonde launches during the campaign adjacent to the UAS flight paths serve as model forecast verification. Experiments reveal a substantial reduction of model bias in forecast temperature and moisture profiles consistently throughout the campaign period due to the assimilation of UAS observations. The model error reduction is most substantial in the vicinity of the inversion at the top of the model-estimated boundary layer. Investigations reveal a consistent improvement to prediction of the vertical position, strength, and depth of the boundary layer inversion. The relative impact of UAS observations is explored further with experiments of systematic denial of data streams from the NAVDAS DA system and removal of individual measurement sources on the UAS platform.

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Effect of Assimilating Himawari-8 Atmospheric Motion Vectors on Forecast Errors over East Asia

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology ◽

10.1175/jtech-d-17-0093.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (9) ◽

pp. 1737-1752 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Dae-Hui Kim ◽

Hyun Mee Kim

Keyword(s):

East Asia ◽

Geopotential Height ◽

Forecast Error ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Energy Norm ◽

Observation System ◽

Forecast Errors ◽

Motion Vectors ◽

Atmospheric Motion ◽

Atmospheric Motion Vectors

AbstractIn this study, the effect of assimilating Himawari-8 (HIMA-8) atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) on forecast errors in East Asia is evaluated using observation system experiments based on the Weather Research and Forecasting Model and three-dimensional variational data assimilation system. The experimental period is from 1 August to 30 September 2015, during which both HIMA-8 and Multifunctional Transport Satellite-2 (MTSAT-2) AMVs exist. The energy-norm forecast error based on the analysis of each experiment as reference was reduced more by replacing MTSAT-2 AMVs with HIMA-8 AMVs than by adding HIMA-8 AMVs to the MTSAT-2 AMVs. When the HIMA-8 AMVs replaced or were added to MTSAT-2 AMVs, the observation impact was reduced, which implies the analysis–forecast system was improved by assimilating HIMA-8 AMVs. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the 500-hPa geopotential height forecasts based on the analysis of each experiment decreases more effectively when the region lacking in upper-air wind observations is reduced by assimilating both MTSAT-2 and HIMA-8 AMVs. When the upper-air radiosonde (SOUND) observations are used as reference, assimilating more HIMA-8 AMVs decreases the forecast error. Based on various measures, the assimilation of HIMA-8 AMVs has a positive effect on the reduction of forecast errors. The effects on the energy-norm forecast error and the RMSE based on SOUND observations are greater when HIMA-8 AMVs replaced MTSAT-2 AMVs. However, the effects on the RMSE of the 500-hPa geopotential height forecasts are greater when both HIMA-8 and MTSAT-2 AMVs were assimilated, which implies potential benefits of assimilating AMVs from several satellites for forecasts over East Asia depending on the choice of measurement.

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Impact of Four-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation of Atmospheric Motion Vectors on Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasts

Weather and Forecasting ◽

10.1175/waf940.1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 663-669 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Dongliang Wang ◽

Xudong Liang ◽

Yihong Duan ◽

Johnny C. L. Chan

Keyword(s):

Tropical Cyclone ◽

Data Assimilation ◽

Mesoscale Model ◽

State University ◽

Motion Vectors ◽

Geostationary Meteorological Satellite ◽

Atmospheric Motion ◽

Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽

Data Assimilation Technique ◽

The Impact

Abstract The fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research nonhydrostatic Mesoscale Model is employed to evaluate the impact of the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-5 water vapor and infrared atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs), incorporated with the four-dimensional variational (4DVAR) data assimilation technique, on tropical cyclone (TC) track predictions. Twenty-two cases from eight different TCs over the western North Pacific in 2002 have been examined. The 4DVAR assimilation of these satellite-derived wind observations leads to appreciable improvements in the track forecasts, with average reductions in track error of ∼5% at 12 h, 12% at 24 h, 10% at 36 h, and 7% at 48 h. Preliminary results suggest that the improvement depends on the quantity of the AMV data available for assimilation.

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