Idealised satellite data assimilation experiments with clouds and precipitation

<p>Operational data assimilation (DA) schemes rely significantly on satellite observations with much research aimed at their optimisation, leading to a great deal of progress. Here, we investigate the impact of the spatial-temporal variability of satellite observations for DA: is there a case for concentrating effort into the assimilation of small-scale convective features over the large-scale dynamics, or vice versa?</p><p> </p><p>We conduct our study in an isentropic one-and-a-half layer model that mimics convection and precipitation, a revised and more realistic version of the idealised model based on the shallow water equations in [1,2]. Forecast-assimilation experiments are performed by means of a twin-setting configuration, in which pseudo-observations  from a high-resolution nature run are combined with lower-resolution forecasts. The DA algorithm used is the deterministic Ensemble Kalman Filter (see [3]). We focus our research on polar-orbit satellites regarding emitted microwave radiation.</p><p> </p><p>We have developed a new observation operator and a representative observing system in which both ground and satellite observations can be assimilated. The convection thresholds in the model are used as a proxy for cloud formation, clouds, and precipitation. To imitate the use of weighting functions in real satellite applications, radiance values are computed as a weighted sum with contributions from both layers. In the presence of clouds and/or precipitation, we model the response of passive microwave radiation to either precipitating or non-precipitating clouds. The horizontal resolution of satellite observations can be varied to investigate the impact of scale-dependency on the analysis.</p><p> </p><p>New, preliminary results from experiments including both transverse jets and rotation in a periodic domain will be reported and discussed.</p><p> </p><p>References:</p><p>[1] Kent, T., Bokhove, O., & Tobias, S. (2017). Dynamics of an idealized fluid model for investigating convective-scale data assimilation. Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography, 69(1), 1369332.</p><p>[2] Kent, T. (2016). An idealised fluid model for convective-scale NWP: dynamics and data assimilation (Doctoral dissertation, PhD Thesis, University of Leeds).</p><p>[3] Sakov, P., & Oke, P. R. (2008). A deterministic formulation of the ensemble Kalman filter: an alternative to ensemble square root filters. Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography, 60(2), 361-371.</p><p> </p>

Research in dynamic meteorology in Russia in 2015–2018

This review outlines the most significant results of research in dynamic meteorology performed by Russian scientists in 20152018. It is part of the Russian National Report on Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences submitted to the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS). The review is supplemented by a list of main publications of Russian scientists on dynamic meteorology in 20152018.

Meteorology influencing springtime air quality, pollution transport, and visibility in Korea

In an environment with many local, remote, persistent, and episodic sources of pollution, meteorology is the primary factor that drives periods of unhealthy air quality and reduced visibility. The 2016 Korea-United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) field study provides a unique opportunity to examine the impact of meteorology on the relative influence of local and transboundary pollution. Much of the KORUS-AQ campaign can be grouped into four distinct research periods based on observed synoptic meteorology, including a period of complex aerosol vertical profiles driven by dynamic meteorology, stagnation under a persistent anticyclone, low-level transport and haze development, and a blocking pattern. These episodes are examined using a diverse archive of ground, airborne, and satellite data. While frontal boundaries are recognized as the primary mechanism driving pollution transport in eastern Asia, results show that they are not always related to sustained periods of hazardous air quality and reduced visibility at the surface. Significant long-range transport of pollution and dust was constrained to a few short events, suggesting that the majority of pollutants sampled during KORUS-AQ originated from local sources. A severe regional pollution episode is examined in detail, featuring dense haze and significant secondary particle formation within a shallow moist boundary layer. Observations during KORUS-AQ also highlight a rapid, 40 ppbv increase in ozone pollution as a strong sea breeze front traversed the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Representativeness of meteorology and pollution conditions measured by KORUS-AQ is considered by comparison with climatology. This analysis is an essential step toward improved local and regional forecasting of air quality and visibility.