RIKEN - Data Assimilation Research Team

Data Assimilation Seminar Series

Affiliation	Kyoto University, JAMSTEC
Title	Assimilation and forecast experiments using bright band heights
Abstract	Bright band heights are the level of strong echo from the melting layer several hundred m below the freezing level. Bright band heights provide most valuable information in the temperature profile related to the cloud microphysics globally over cloudy areas. They are, however, not typically used in the operational data assimilation. We conducted assimilation and forecast experiments using the bright band heights in the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Precipitation Radar (TRMM PR) 2A23 dataset using an ensemble data assimilation system. With the bright band heights, the middle troposphere is slightly warmed with reduced analysis ensemble spread. The precipitation is increased in the tropics and is reduced in the subtropics. The analysis is found to be improved, but may have negative impact on forecast.
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