Potential impact of all-sky assimilation of visible and infrared satellite observations compared with radar reflectivity for convective-scale numerical weather prediction

In this article, we estimate the potential impact of assimilating cloud-affected satellite observations of visible (0.6 mu m) and near thermal infrared wavelengths (6.2 and 7.3 mu m) relative to the impact of assimilating radar reflectivity observations.

We employed observing-system simulation experiments with a perfect-model forecast for two cases of strong convective summertime precipitation. Observations are simulated using the radiative transfer model RTTOV/MFASIS and assimilated by the ensemble adjustment Kalman filter in the Data Assimilation Research Testbed. The Weather Research and Forecasting model at 2-km grid resolution was used for forecasts.