Assimilation of Clear- and Cloudy-Sky Upper-Tropospheric Humidity Estimates Using GOES-8 and GOES-9 Data

Abstract

A strong linearity exists between the 6.7-?m clear-sky outgoing brightness temperature (BT) and dewpoint depression (DPD) at upper-tropospheric levels. A similar relationship, using the logarithm of relative humidity instead of DPD, was developed by Soden and Bretherton. Here, however, the humidity at specific levels is derived as opposed to the humidity integrated over upper-tropospheric levels. Linear relationships are obtained between a 6-h model forecast of DPD and calculated BTs at different viewing angles. The data are further stratified in terms of 400-mb temperature as an indicator of airmass type. Applying these relationships using observed 6.7-?m BTs and a 6-h forecast of 400-mb temperature yields vertically correlated estimates of DPD between 200 and 500 mb, with DPD typically decreasing with height, and corresponding rms error estimates in the range 3?6 K. The retrieval technique is applied to GOES-8 and GOES-9 data, which cover about 40% of the globe. In cloudy regions, proxy humidity estimates based on cloud classification are used. These clear- and cloudy-sky DPD estimates are assimilated every 6 h in a global forecast model, taking into consideration the horizontal correlation of the error. The system is supplemented by quality-control procedures. In parallel runs at the Canadian Meteorological Centre, the analyses and forecasts with satellite data (SAT) were found significantly improved with respect to those without satellite data (NOSAT). The system was therefore implemented. The superiority of the SAT forecasts in terms of 6.7-?m BT, 2-K versus 4-K rms at initial time, gradually decreases to the level of the NOSAT forecasts in 48 h. A slight improvement on geopotential, DPD, and temperature is observed in 48-h forecasts with respect to radiosondes over North America. The new upper-tropospheric DPD retrieval technique is robust and could easily be applied to other geostationary or polar-orbiting platforms providing 6.7-?m imagery.