Advances in Radiative Transfer Modeling in Support of Satellite Data Assimilation

Development of fast and accurate radiative transfer models for clear atmospheric conditions has enabled direct assimilation of clear-sky radiances from satellites in numerical weather prediction models. In this article, fast radiative transfer schemes and their components critical for satellite data assimilation are summarized and discussed for their potential applications in operational global data assimilation systems. The major impediments to the fast radiative transfer schemes are highlighted and a call is made for broader community efforts to develop advanced radiative transfer components that can better handle the scattering from atmospheric constituents (e.g., aerosols, clouds, and precipitation) and surface materials (e.g., snow, sea ice, deserts).