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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • Nature Run
  • Observing System Simulation Experiments
  • Atlantic hurricanes

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Processes: General circulation
  • Atmospheric Processes: Data assimilation
  • Atmospheric Processes: Tropical meteorology
  • Atmospheric Processes: Synoptic-scale meteorology
  • Atmospheric Processes: Remote sensing

Abstract

Preliminary evaluation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' (ECMWF) Nature Run over the tropical Atlantic and African monsoon region

O. Reale

Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

J. Terry

Scientific Laboratory and Visualization Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

Science Applications International Corporation, Beltsville, Maryland, USA

M. Masutani

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Camp Springs, Maryland, USA

RS Information Systems, McLean, Virginia, USA

E. Andersson

Data Assimilation Section, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading, UK

L. P. Riishojgaard

Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation, Camp Springs, Maryland, USA

Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

J. C. Jusem

Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Meteorological observing systems are continuously being developed to improve our knowledge of the atmosphere and our forecasting capabilities. Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) are a general technique to assess a priori the potential impact of future instruments, which is particularly important in the case of spaceborne systems. One crucial component of OSSEs is the Nature Run (NR), representing a virtual atmosphere from which observations can be simulated so that the impact of future instruments can be assessed. A community-based, 13-month T511 NR was designed in an international collaborative effort and was produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) to build a next-generation OSSE capability. This new Joint OSSE NR is being analyzed with emphasis on tropical development over the western African monsoon region and the tropical Atlantic. The NR representation of the African Easterly Jet and the characteristics of African Easterly Waves including their propagation and development in tropical-cyclone like vortices are investigated. This is the first NR that encompasses one entire Atlantic tropical cyclone season producing realistic tropical cyclone activity. As such it is a valuable tool to perform OSSEs to assess the possible impact of future instruments targeting hurricanes.

Received 9 August 2007; accepted 23 October 2007; published 24 November 2007.

Citation: Reale, O., J. Terry, M. Masutani, E. Andersson, L. P. Riishojgaard, and J. C. Jusem (2007), Preliminary evaluation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' (ECMWF) Nature Run over the tropical Atlantic and African monsoon region, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L22810, doi:10.1029/2007GL031640.

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