Data Assimilation Cycling with GSI and AIRS

Sixth Meeting of the Science Advisory Committee28 February – 1 March, 2012

National Space Science and Technology Center, Huntsville, AL

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Relevance to SPoRT• SPoRT focuses on improvements to short-term, regional weather

forecasts using unique satellite products and capabilities• Assimilation of satellite observations to produce improved initial

conditions for model simulations– AIRS radiances and profiles have shown improvements on the global scale– Limited work to show utility on regional scale forecasts

• GSI provides opportunity to more closely collaborate with operational forecasting, data assimilation, and modeling groups

• Lessons learned can be applied to other hyperspectral sounders such as IASI (EUMETSAT) or CrIS (NOAA/NASA)

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Accomplishments Since Previous SAC• “SPoRT should migrate [to] GSI or something more mainstream”

– GSI adopted as SPoRT system for data assimilation projects– Ongoing collaborations to use GSI to improve operational forecasts

• “SPoRT should evaluate work being done by EMC with IASI for application in regional and local WRF models in preparation for CrIS applications”

– Modular AIRS (from LANCE) and IASI (from NESDIS) pre-processing for PrepBUFR format to support near-future assimilation within GSI (easy transition to CrIS)

– All of the projects described herein will eventually use IASI and CrIS profiles within the cycling methodology to produce a more robust system of assimilating

• Two publications to wrap up work assimilating AIRS in WRF-Var– Vertical levels (NWA Journal of Operational Meteorology)– AIRS profile assimilation (IEEE TGRS)

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Final Wrap-Up of WRF-Var Work

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

NAM ICsWRF BKGDRAOB

37 Levels 50 Levels

• WRF-Var users should select model vertical levels that are representative of the initial conditions and observations to reduce unexpected changes that propagate through the vertical column

• Evaluation of 37-day case study and single case reveal AIRS profiles increase instability and improve heavy precipitation forecasts

Transition to Cycled GSI• Using Developmental Testbed Center (DTC) GSI code with Chou and

Zavodsky attending multi-day tutorial in summer 2010• Preprocess profiles into PrepBUFR format using specific QIs• Worked with EMC to develop scripts to create a cycled GSI system

similar to operational NAM• Worked with EMC

to make NDAS observation files available in real-time to develop research archive

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Schematic for GSI scripts (DiMego, personal communication, 2011)

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

•Only TPW satellite observations available over Pacific to track moisture features; models provide some additional guidance

•AIRS T and Q AIRS add detail around clouds resulting in more favorable moisture analysis over Pacific than real-time GFS

Atmospheric Rivers

• Evaluate integrated WV in specific layers

• Produce daily real-time, layered moisture analysis products using AIRS, IASI, and CrIS

CIRA Blended

GFS T and Q AIRSTotal Precipitable Water valid at ~0000 UTC on 2009 October 14

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Operational HRRRAK

GSI analysis w/ AIRS profiles 6h WRF forecast w/ AIRS profiles

1000 hPa Temperature Differences (AIRS–CNTL)

• SPoRT approached to assimilate AIRS profile data in Alaska’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRRAK) used by WFOs

• Collaboration with Alaska Region Supercomputing Center (ARSC)• Ongoing work to show improved initialization for HRRRAK using AIRS

profiles and GSI

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

• SPoRT provided near-real-time AIRS profile PREPBUFR files, and guidance on GSI setup and experiment design

• Eventual project goal is to provide real-time model output to AK WFOs

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• Funded by ROSES10 proposal• Small percentage of total

radiances observed are assimilated

– Cloud-free radiances only– Data reduction

• Focuses on cloud and surface emissivity checking, quality control, and data reduction

• Determine which channels are being assimilated in each observation using diagnostics

Limited Impact from AIRS Radiances

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Clear

Cloudy Lower levels impacted by emissivity

Clear channels above cloud

Additional channels available above cloud

Operational

Proposed

Collaborations with JCSDA/EMC• Through previously mentioned proposal, SPoRT has increased

collaborations with JCSDA and NCEP/EMC– JCSDA works closely with EMC to transition satellite observations into the GFS– SPoRT focuses on regional data assimilation and is working to collaborate on a

more serious level with EMC’s regional DA group– NAM Launcher: offline version of operational NAM available by EMC to select

collaborators– Goal is to coordinate with EMC to better understand their research challenges

and provide R2O support for satellite data sets and capabilities in the NAM

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Summary/Conclusions• SPoRT uses profiles and radiances from hyperspectral sounders

to determine the impact of these instruments on sensible weather parameters

–Research with AIRS retrieved profiles has shown improvements to short-term, regional forecasts

• Ongoing research projects– AIRS 3D moisture product– Collaboration with ARSC to bring hyperspectral

profile data into HRRRAK– Investigation into impact of AIRS radiances using AIRS profiles

• Lessons learned from AIRS assimilation studies can be used for the assimilation of IASI and CrIS profiles

• Collaboration with EMC to test NAM Launcher to perform research on impact of other NASA/SPoRT data sets

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Future Work• Short-term plans:

– Transition 3D moisture analysis product to local and national partners with matching forecast challenges

– Continue collaborations with ARSC to transition hyperspectral sounder profiles to WFO operations in Alaska

– Perform targeted research using NAM Launcher in collaboration with JCSDA/EMC

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Suomi NPP

Suomi NPP launch on October 28, 2011Vandenberg Air Force Base

• Long-term plans (SAC Recommendations requested):

– Precipitation and land cover (GPM, SMAP)– Remotely-sensed winds (WindSat, HIRAD)– Lightning data (NALMA; GLM)– Dual-polarization radar (collaborate with UAH)