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Assimilating data from a simulated global constellation of stratospheric balloons
Author(s) -
Keil M.
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1256/qj.03.219
Subject(s) - constellation , stratosphere , environmental science , data assimilation , meteorology , climatology , latitude , atmospheric sciences , geography , geology , geodesy , physics , astronomy
In order to evaluate the effect of assimilating data from proposed stratospheric balloon networks, a variation of the standard Observation Systems Simulation Experiment (OSSE), called a Partial (or Poor‐man's) OSSE, was developed. This technique was used to assimilate five different simulated balloon constellations. Increasing the constellation density increased the analysis and forecast accuracy, predominately near the balloon flight level (30 hPa) in the tropics and throughout the depth of the stratosphere at higher latitudes. However, the potential impact may be greater, since the saturation point, where assimilating extra observations produces no additional analysis benefit, was not reached for the range of constellation densities tested. Unrealistic analysis increments were produced during a sudden stratospheric warming period. This weakness arises from the use of climatological background‐error statistics in assimilation schemes. Overall, the results are very encouraging and suggest that proposals to add a permanent constellation of stratospheric balloons to the global observing system are realistic and beneficial to the scientific community. © Crown copyright, 2004. Royal Meteorological Society