Premium
Global processing of satellite sounding radiances in a numerical weather prediction system
Author(s) -
Gadd A. J.,
Barwell B. R.,
Cox S. J.,
Renshaw R. J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49712152308
Subject(s) - radiance , gloss (optics) , numerical weather prediction , environmental science , meteorology , depth sounding , data assimilation , remote sensing , satellite , northern hemisphere , seawifs , computer science , climatology , geography , geology , aerospace engineering , engineering , cartography , chemistry , organic chemistry , phytoplankton , nutrient , coating
This paper gives an account of the global soundings system (GLOSS), which is the new method introduced at the Meteorological Office at Bracknell for the processing of global TOVS radiance data for assimilation into numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. The assimilating NWP models themselves provide the prior information necessary to infer temperature and humidity information from radiances. After a brief summary of the historical background, the GLOSS processing is described, noting in particular the differences from similar work elsewhere. Results are then presented from NWP impact studies of the assimilation of temperature profiles derived from satellite soundings. An advantage is demonstrated for the GLOSS temperature retrievals relative to the retrievals distributed by NESDIS and produced from the same radiance data. The advantage of GLOSS is clear and consistent in the extratropical regions of the northern hemisphere and, especially, of the southern hemisphere. In the tropics the results are more mixed. The paper concludes with a note of additional work required before operational implementation of GLOSS, and with an outline of other expected future developments.