Evaluation of radiative transfer schemes for mesoscale model data assimilation: a case study

A. Memmo (1) , C. Faccani (1) , R. Ferretti (1, 2) , S. Di Michele (3) , F. S. Marzano (1, 4)

1 Centro di Eccellenza CETEMPS
2 Dipartimento di Fisica
3 Research Department
4 Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettronica

The assimilation of Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data into the Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) allows for improving the weather forecast. However the results suggested an update the Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE) within the three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) algorithm which is tailored for non rainy conditions only. To this purpose, a new RTE algorithm is tested, in order to account for radiometric response in rainy regions. The new brightness temperatures (T_B) are estimated by using hydrometeor profiles from the MM5 mesoscale model, running with two different microphysical parameterizations. The goodness of the results is assessed by comparing the new T_B with those of the original RTE algorithm in the 3DVAR code and the SSM/I observed data. The results confirm a better reliability of the new RTE compared to the old one.

Domaines: Sciences de la Terre

A. Memmo, C. Faccani, R. Ferretti, S. Di Michele, F. S. Marzano. Evaluation of radiative transfer schemes for mesoscale model data assimilation: a case study. Advances in Geosciences, 2006, 7, pp.193-198. ⟨hal-00297390⟩