Overview

1. Use Of NPP Data In The Joint Center For Satellite Data AssimilationLars Peter Riishojgaard, JCSDA Director IGARSS 2011

2. Overview • Introduction to JCSDA • Weather prediction and satellite data • Motivation for R2O, NPP • Preparation for new sensors • NPP-related activities • Summary IGARSS 2011

3. JCSDA History • NASA/NOAA collaboration (Uccellini, Einaudi, Purdom, McDonald) initiated in 2000 • Concern about US leadership in satellite data technology and instrumentation not replicated in applications, e.g. NWP • GMAO (DAO), NCEP and STAR (ORA) • Emphasis on balanced approach involving • Modeling • Computing • Observational data • Inclusion of DoD (NRL Monterey and AFWA) triggered by IPO sponsorship of JCSDA starting in 2002 • First permanent Director hired in 2004 (John Le Marshall) • Memorandum of Agreement signed May 2008 IGARSS 2011

4. NOAA/NESDIS NOAA/NWS NASA/Earth Science Division NOAA/OAR US Navy/Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy and NRL US Air Force/Director of Weather JCSDA Partners, Vision, Mission Vision: An interagency partnership working to become a world leader in applying satellite data and research to operational goals in environmental analysis and prediction Mission: …to accelerate and improve the quantitative use of research and operational satellite data in weather, ocean, climate and environmental analysis and prediction models. IGARSS 2011

5. JCSDA Science Priorities • Radiative Transfer Modeling (CRTM) • Preparation for assimilation of data from new instruments • Clouds and precipitation • Assimilation of land surface observations • Assimilation of ocean surface observations • Atmospheric composition; chemistry and aerosol Overarching goal: Help the operational services improve the quality of their prediction products via improved and accelerated use of satellite data and related research Driving the activities of the Joint Center since 2001, approved by the Science Steering Committee IGARSS 2011

6. Impact of GOS components on 24-h ECMWF Global Forecast skill (courtesy of Erik Andersson, ECMWF) Satellite data now account for most of the skill

7. 500 hPa geopotential height anomaly correction from 01/09/2008-02/22/2008 1000 hPa geopotential height anomaly correction from 01/09/2008-02/22/2008

8. Weather Prediction and the US Economy; A Macroscopic View • Department of Commerce: “20% of overall US economy is weather sensitive”: ~$3 trillion/year • Impact to air and surface transportation, agriculture, construction, energy production and distribution, etc. • Assume that half of this is “forecast sensitive”: $1.5 trillion/year • Assume that the potential savings due to weather forecasting amount to 5% of the “forecast sensitive total”: ~$75B/year IGARSS 2011

9. … a Macroscopic View … (II) • Define now • “No forecast information” = 0 h useful forecast range • “Perfect forecast” = 336 h useful forecast forecast range (two weeks traditonally used as limit of predictability) • Next, assume that the potential savings up to the maximum of $75B are distributed linearly over the achieved forecast range for the global NWP system: • $75B/336h = $223M/hr • This implies that the value to the United States economy of weather observations, dissemination, forecast products and services is >200M per hour of forecast range per year ! IGARSS 2011

10. NPP-related efforts in the Joint Center • Improved use of legacy data • CrIS precursors (AIRS, IASI) • ATMS precursors (AMSU) • CRTM modifications • Data flow/ingest of proxy data • Impact Experiments • Post-launch activities IGARSS 2011

11. Improved use of NPP precursor data; IR • AIRS/IASI water vapor channel improvement • Use of cloudy radiances • Surface emissivity (land) • Assimilation methodology studies • Additional channels IGARSS 2011

12. Forecast impact of assimilation of AIRS cloud-cleared radiances IGARSS 2011

13. Improved use of NPP precursor data; Microwave • Ongoing CRTM improvements • Surface emissivity, especially over snow, ice,… • Emissivity models • Databases • Measurements affected by precipitation IGARSS 2011

14. Example of MW emissivity study (courtesy of Fuzhong Weng, NESDIS/STAR) IGARSS 2011

15. NPP Proxy Data • CrIS and ATMS proxy data generated by NESDIS on a routine basis (Barnet) • Based on GFS model output, SARTA radiative transfer model applied to model profiles • Streamed to JCSDA, ready for testing IGARSS 2011

16. CRTM status • CRTM ready for NPP sensors • CrIS • ATMS • VIIRS • CRTM v. 2.1 released earlier this year • Additional sensors • Computational efficiency IGARSS 2011

17. 500 hPa geopotential height anomaly correction from 01/09/2008-02/22/2008 1000 hPa geopotential height anomaly correction from 01/09/2008-02/22/2008

18. Observing System Simulation Experiments for NPP • Level 1 • Experiments with simulated (proxy) data from CrIS, ATMS along with existing data used in operations • Purpose here is to test data flow and data ingest rather than data impact • Level 2 • Using the Joint OSSE system • All data simulated; purpose is to assess and optimize data impact IGARSS 2011

19. Post-launch activities • Passive monitoring • Observation minus forecast residuals monitored • This effectively validates NPP data against the rest of the Global Observing System • Active assimilation, off-line mode, impact assessment • Operational assimilation IGARSS 2011

20. Summary • The economic impact of Numerical Weather Prediction and related activities are estimated to range in the tens of $B/year for the US alone • Satellite data are critical for NWP • Upcoming launch of NPP marks the entry of a new generation of operational meteorological satellites for the US • The Joint Center is heavily involved in preparing US operational users to benefit from these new data as soon as possible after launch IGARSS 2011