Data Assimilation of Satellite-Derived Heating Rates as Proxy Surface Wetness Data into a Regional Atmospheric Mesoscale Model. Part I: Methodology

Abstract

A satellite data assimilation method is developed which incorporates satellite-observed infrared heating rates into a mesoscale atmospheric model to retrieve model soil moisture. The method builds upon previous work with the model?s surface energy budget by including a prognostic soil model with explicit bare soil and vegetation surface components. A 1D test simulation is performed to verify the derived equation sets. Limitations are found regarding the retrieval of extreme dry or wet events using the current model surface parameterization. This has implications on the ability of the retrieved soil moisture values to affect the atmospheric model?s forecast using the assimilated soil moisture fields.