1. The 13th JCSDA Technical Review Meeting & Science Workshop on Satellite Data Assimilation
NCWCP, May 13-15, 2015
College Park, MD
JCSDA-related Satellite Data Assimilation Research and Training Activities at CIRA
Milija Zupanski and Chris Kummerow
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
Fort Collins, Colorado

2. Outline CIRA Background CIRA satellite DA research
CIRA-NOAA Graduate Student Training Program in Data Assimilation
Summary and future development

3. CIRA Background
NOAA Cooperative institute at Colorado State University, co-located with Atmospheric Science Department
Promotes and conducts multi-disciplinary cooperation among CI and NOAA research scientists, University faculty, staff and students in the context of NOAA-specified research theme areas in satellite applications for weather/climate forecasting
Extensive research in data assimilation, in particular satellite data assimilation
Fort Collins DA group: Steven Fletcher, Karina Apodaca, Ting-Chi Wu, Anton Kliewer, David Baker, Andrew Schuh, graduate students
CIRA employees working on data assimilation at NOAA/GSD in Boulder, NCWCP in College Park

4. CIRA Research Theme III: Data Assimilation
GOES-R
Objective 1: Carbon cycle assimilation
Objective 2: Water cycle assimilation
Objective 3: Air quality assimilation
GPM
Objective 4: Applications of assimilation to model analysis and
verification
Objective 5: Applications of assimilation to observing system assessment and new observations
Outline slide
CarbonTracker
Use of NOAA observations, data assimilation and modeling systems
Support collaboration between NOAA, NASA, DoD and JCSDA
Milija Zupanski CIRA/CSU

5. CIRA Satellite Data Assimilation Research
Long history in processing satellite data and satellite applications
Co-located with satellite data processing and satellite product research teams working with JPSS, GOES-R, GPM, CLOUDSAT
Development and applications of new satellite data assimilation and cloud retrieval methodologies
Direct support of NOAA and NASA DA development

6. Highlights of CIRA Satellite Data Assimilation Research related to JCSDA mission
Assimilation of cloud and precipitation-affected satellite radiances
Infrared (GOES-R ABI, MSG SEVIRI, GEMS ABI, CrIS)
Microwave (GMI, TMI, AMSUA, AMSUB, ATMS, MHS, AMSRE, AMSR2)
Assimilation of new observation types
GOES-R GLM
GPM rainfall product
Modeling systems
Global, regional and cloud resolving
Coupled systems
Systems and algorithms
WRF-NMM, HWRF, GFS (NOAA operational systems)
Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data assimilation
Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM)
NU-WRF (NASA regional unified model)

7. First assimilation of GMI precipitation-affected radiances
Highlights of CIRA Satellite Data Assimilation Research: All-sky GMI radiances
NASA Unified WRF (NU-WRF)
NASA WRF Ensemble Data Assimilation System (WRF-EDAS)
Using DPR for radiance bias correction
High-precipitation event over the Southeast US (~15 May 2014)
First guess GMI radiance
Hydrometeor (qrain)
analysis increments
Accumulated 6-hour
precipitation forecast
First assimilation of GMI precipitation-affected radiances
From Sara Zhang (NASA/GMAO)

8. DA Challenge of new observation types
Problem: If forecast error covariance has a less-reliable or non-existent cross-variable correlations, how to design observation operator?
Relevant to all DA methods (variational, hybrid variational-ensemble, and ensemble DA)
Strategy: Custom design observation operator in order to provide the impact of the particular observation on the initial conditions of ps,T,u,v, …
Cloud hydrometeor, lightning flash rate can impact the initial conditions
of standard dynamical variables, thus providing the environment adjustment

9. Highlights of CIRA Satellite Data Assimilation Research related to JCSDA mission: GOES-R GLM data assimilation
“Incorporating the GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper Assimilation into the GSI for use in the NCEP Global System”
Initial tests with regional modeling systems (WRF-NMM,WRF-ARW)
Next step with global modeling systems (GFS)
Challenge: Extract the information about the storm environment from lightning observations
Karina Apodaca’s poster

10. Project Description The scientific focus of this project is to
develop the capability to assimilate GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) observations in the NOAA/NCEP global data assimilation system (GDAS)
We plan to achieve this by:
adopting and optimizing the GLM lightning observation operator that is suited for NOAA global forecasting and data assimilation, and
incorporating the lightning observation operator in NOAA global data assimilation system

11. Highlights of CIRA Satellite Data Assimilation Research: Assimilation of satellite precipitation data for hurricanes
“Assimilation of Moisture and Precipitation Observations in Cloudy Regions of Hurricane Inner Core Environments to Improve Hurricane Intensity, Structure and Precipitation”
Application with NOAA HWRF model
Assimilation of customized TRMM/GPM cloud hydrometeor retrievals
Next step all-sky satellite radiances from ATMS and CrIS
Challenge: Make cloud hydrometeor retrievals impact the initial conditions of mass/wind control variables in GSI
Ting-Chi Wu’s poster

12. Project Description The scientific focus of this project is to
Use GSI to assimilate satellite moisture/precipitation data in near-core and hurricane core environment for use by NOAA operational HWRF model, and
evaluate the impact on the analysis and prediction of hurricane intensity, structure, and precipitation.
GPM
GOES-R
We plan to achieve this by:
developing this capability for the NOAA operational hurricane WRF (HWRF) modeling system for assimilation in the core, and near- core environment

13. CIRA-NOAA Graduate Student Training Program in Data Assimilation
New program started in 2015
Motivation
Objective
Building on pre-existing expertise and convenient location
Extensive DA research and development at CIRA, in particular the satellite DA
Co-located with ATS/CSU, with strong background in satellite and modeling research and applications
Future

14. CIRA-NOAA Graduate Student Training Program in Data Assimilation: Motivation
Data assimilation has become a necessity in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP)
Although the need for data assimilation is clearly increasing, there is a noticeable lack of skilled data assimilation scientists entering the job market.
Fortunately, there is a great interest among young scientists completing their graduate studies to begin working in the field of data assimilation.
Develop a formal training of these scientists in data assimilation in order to help in ameliorating the problem, with clear benefits to government labs and research institutions. Currently focused on NOAA operational systems (GSI, CRTM, WRF-NMM, HWRF, GFS).

15. CIRA-NOAA Graduate Student Training Program in Data Assimilation: Goal/Objective
In collaboration between CIRA and NOAA, develop a one-year graduate student training program in data assimilation
Aim the program at recent graduates who have general skills in geosciences, mathematics, or engineering, and who are motivated and willing to learn about data assimilation
Combine theoretical and practical DA teaching and training

16. CIRA-NOAA Graduate Student Training Program in Data Assimilation: Training Plan
Brief theoretical introduction to data assimilation
Advanced topics related to practical realization of variational, ensemble, and hybrid variational-ensemble methods, and the outstanding issues
Cover the typical sources of observations, in particular the satellite observations
Decide on a problem of mutual interest and conduct a data assimilation study
Work conducted on JCSDA S4 computer
At the end, anticipate that the data assimilation study will result in a conference paper or a peer-reviewed manuscript. Present the completed research to the interested NOAA Labs and Centers

17. CIRA-NOAA Graduate Student Training Program in Data Assimilation: Interns
Two interns in 2015
Both interns are highly motivated and have the required mathematical and computational skills
Biljana Orescanin (MS)
- Background in carbon transport, plant phenology, land surface
- MS from Colorado State University
James Taylor (PhD)
- Background in global modeling, MJO, tropical convection
- PhD from University of Reading, UK

18. CIRA-NOAA Graduate Student Training Program in Data Assimilation: Future
Produce well-trained data assimilation scientists for potential work at NOAA
Strengthen the program by improving the coordination between NOAA scientists and DA interns
Build a strong, systematic way of training the motivated scientists
Extend the program to other interested Government Labs and Centers (e.g., NASA, NRL)
Increase the number of interns

19. Summary CIRA has a long history in satellite data assimilation
Data assimilation research activities focus on JCSDA-relevant applications
New CIRA-NOAA data assimilation training program started in 2015
JCSDA computing support (S4) for training
Great potential for helping NOAA in hiring the scientists who are highly-skilled in data assimilation and familiar with NOAA operational systems