Value-added Impact of Geostationary Hyperspectral Infrared Sounders on Local Severe Storm Forecasts——via a Quick Regional OSSE

Accurate atmospheric temperature and moisture information with high temporal/spatial resolutions are two of the key parameters needed in regional numerical weather prediction(NWP) models to reliably predict high-impact weather events such as local severe storms(LSSs). High spectral resolution or hyperspectral infrared(HIR) sounders from geostationary orbit(GEO) provide an unprecedented source of near time-continuous, three-dimensional information on the dynamic and thermodynamic atmospheric fields—an important benefit for nowcasting and NWP-based forecasting. In order to demonstrate the value of GEO HIR sounder radiances on LSS forecasts, a quick regional OSSE(Observing System Simulation Experiment)framework has been developed, including high-resolution nature run generation, synthetic observation simulation and validation, and impact study on LSS forecasts. Results show that, on top of the existing LEO(low earth orbit) sounders, a GEO HIR sounder may provide value-added impact [a reduction of 3.56% in normalized root-mean-square difference(RMSD)] on LSS forecasts due to large spatial coverage and high temporal resolution, even though the data are assimilated every 6 h with a thinning of 60 km. Additionally, more frequent assimilations and smaller thinning distances allow more observations to be assimilated, and may further increase the positive impact from a GEO HIR sounder. On the other hand, with denser and more frequent observations assimilated, it becomes more difficult to handle the spatial error correlation in observations and gravity waves due to the limitations of current assimilation and forecast systems(such as a static background error covariance). The peak reduction of 4.6% in normalized RMSD is found when observations are assimilated every 3 h with a thinning distance of 30 km.

Assimilation of Feng-Yun-3B Satellite Microwave Humidity Sounder Data over Land

The ECMWF has been assimilating Feng-Yun-3B （FY-3B） satellite microwave humidity sounder （MWHS） data over ocean in an operational forecasting system since 24 September 2014, It is more difficult, however, to assimilate microwave observations over land and sea ice than over the open ocean due to higher uncertainties in land surface temperature, surface emissivity and less effective cloud screening. We compare approaches in which the emissivity is retrieved dynamically from MWHS channel l [150 GHz （vertical polarization）] with the use of an evolving emissivity atlas from 89 GHz observations from the MWHS onboard NOAA and EUMETSAT satellites. The assimilation of the additional data over land improves the fit of short-range forecasts to other observations, notably ATMS （Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder） humidity channels, and the forecast impacts are mainly neutral to slightly positive over the first five days. The forecast impacts are better in boreal summer and the Southern Hemisphere. These results suggest that the techniques tested allow for effective assimilation of MWHS/FY-3B data over land.

The alternative of CubeSat-based advanced infrared and microwave sounders for high impact weather forecasting

The advanced infrared(IR) and microwave(MW) sounding systems have been providing atmospheric sounding information critical for nowcasting and improving weather forecasts through data assimilation in numerical weather prediction. In recent years, advanced IR and MW sounder systems are being proposed to be onboard CubeSats that are much more cost efficient than traditional satellite systems. An impact study using a regional Observing System Simulation Experiment on a local severe storm(LSS) was carried out to evaluate the alternative of using advanced MW and IR sounders for high-impact weather forecasting in mitigating the potential data gap of the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder(ATMS) and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder(CrIS) on the Suomi-NPP(SNPP) or Joint Polar Satellite System(JPSS). It was found that either MicroMAS-2 or the CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder(CIRAS) on a single CubeSat was able to provide a positive impact on the LSS forecast, and more CubeSats with increased data coverage yielded larger positive impacts.MicroMAS-2 has the potential to mitigate the loss of ATMS, and CIRAS the loss of CrIS, on SNPP or JPSS, especially when multiple CubeSats are launched. There are several approximations and limitations to the present study, but these represent efficiencies appropriate to the principal goal of the study — gauging the relative values of these sensors.

Assessment and Assimilation of FY-3 Humidity Sounders and Imager in the UK Met Office Global Model

China＇s FengYnn 3 （FY-3） polar orbiting satellites axe set to become an important sonrce of observational data for nu- merical weather prediction （NWP）, atmospheric reanalyses, and climate monitoring studies over the next two decades. As part of the Climate Science for Service Partnership China （CSSP China） prograln, FY-3B Microwave Humidity Sounder 1 （MWHS-1） and FY-3C MWHS-2 observations have been thoroughly assessed and prepared for operational assimilation. This represents the first time observations from China＇s polar orbiting satellites have been used in the UK＇s global NWP model. Since 2016, continuous data quality monitoring has shown occasional bias changes found to be correlated to changes in the energy supply scheme regulating the platform heating system and other transient anomalies. Nonetheless, MWHS-1 and MWHS-2 significantly contribute to the 24-h forecast error reduction by 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively, and the combination of both instruments is shown to improve the fit to the model background of independent sounders by up to 1%. The observations from the Microwave Radiation Imager （MWRI） also are a potentially significant source of benefits for NWP models, but a solar-dependent bias observed in the instrument half-orbits has prevented their assimilation. This paper presents the bases of a correction scheme developed at the Met Office for the purpose of a future assimilation of MWRI data.

Ex situ echo sounder target strengths of ice krill Euphausia crystallorophias

Ice krill is the keystone species in the neritic ecosystem in the Southern Ocean, where it replaces the more oceanic Antarctic krill. It is essential to understand the variation of target strength （TS in dB re l m^2） with the different body size to accurately estimate ice krill stocks. However, there is comparatively little knowledge of the acoustic backscatter of ice krill. The TS of individual, formalin-preserved, tethered ice krill was measured in a freshwater test tank at 38, 120, and 200 kHz with a calibrated split-beam echo sounder system. Mean TS was obtained from 21 individual ice krill with a broad range of body lengths （L： 13-36 iron）. The length （L, mm） to wet weight （W; mg） relationship for ice krill was 11/=0.001 21g^103~L35s （R2=0.96）. The mean TS-to-length relationship were TS38kHz=-177.4＋57log10（L）, （R^2=0.86）; TS120kHz= -129.9＋31.561ogf0（L）, （R2=0.87）; and TS200kHz=-117.6＋24.661ogre（L）, （R2=0.84）. Empirical estimates of the relationship between the TS and body length of ice krill were established at 38, 120, and 200 kHz and compared with predictions obtained from both the linear regression model of Greene et al. （1991） and the Stochastic Distorted Wave Born Approximation （SDWBA） model. This result might be applied to improve acoustic detection and density estimation of ice krill in the Southern Ocean. Further comparative studies are needed with in situ target strength including various body lengths of ice krill.

Recent progress on space-borne microwave sounder pre-launch calibration technologies in China

The development processes and the application achievements of space-borne microwave sounder pre-launch calibration technologies in China are introduced briefly. Then, the general project plan for pre-launch calibration, the latest research achievements on the optimization and development of the microwave wide band calibration targets, emissivity measurement technologies and the system level uncertainty analysis of the laboratory, and the thermal/vacuum microwave sounder calibration system for ＂FY-3＂ meteorological satellite are reported, respectively. Finally, the key technological problems of the calibration technologies under researching are analyzed predictively.

Potential suitable sites for the calibration of Scientific Echo Sounder in the marginal seas around Antarctica

The in situ calibration of Scientific Echo Sounders(SESs)in the Southern Ocean is crucial for accurate assessments of Antarctic krill and fishery biomasses.Because of the occurrence of strong winds,waves,and sea ice coverage in most seasons,SES calibration is usually difficult to perform in the Southern Ocean.Accordingly,it is essential to identify potential sites suitable for SES calibration in the marginal seas around Antarctica to successfully calibrate SESs in the Southern Ocean.Using synthetic analyses of the wind,surface current,and sea ice concentration in the targeted seas,we found that the polynya in the southeast Prydz Bay,close to the Chinese Zhongshan Station,is an ideal location to calibrate SESs based on its weak wind and surface current and its ice-free coverage during Antarctic cruises.Calibrations of the SESs onboard the research vessels of Xuelong and Xuelong 2 during the 36th and 37th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expeditions indicate that this location is a potential suitable site for conducting SES calibration with the vessel in a drifting mode.

A Neural Network Based Single Footprint Temperature Retrieval for Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Measurements and Its Application to Study on Stratospheric Gravity Wave

Satellite hyperspectral infrared sounder measurements have better horizontal resolution than other sounding techniques as it boasts the stratospheric gravity wave(GW)analysis.To accurately and efficiently derive the three-dimensional structure of the stratospheric GWs from the single-field-of-view(SFOV)Atmospheric Infra Red Sounder(AIRS)observations,this paper firstly focuses on the retrieval of the atmospheric temperature profiles in the altitude range of 20-60 km with an artificial neural network approach(ANN).The simulation experiments show that the retrieval bias is less than 0.5 K,and the root mean square error(RMSE)ranges from 1.8 to 4 K.Moreover,the retrieval results from 20 granules of the AIRS observations with the trained neural network(AIRS_SFOV)and the corresponding operational AIRS products(AIRS_L2)as well as the dual-regression results from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies(CIMSS)(AIRS_DR)are compared respectively with ECMWF T799 data.The comparison indicates that the standard deviation of the ANN retrieval errors is significantly less than that of the AIRS_DR.Furthermore,the analysis of the typical GW events induced by the mountain Andes and the typhoon"Soulik"using different data indicates that the AIRS_SFOV results capture more details of the stratospheric gravity waves in the perturbation amplitude and pattern than the operational AIRS products do.

The Study of In-Orbit Calibration Accuracy of NOAA Satellite Infrared Sounder and Its Effect on Temperature Profile Retrievals

The calibration accuracy of High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder Mod. 2 (HIRS / 2) on NOAA-10 satellite is analyzed in this paper. The non-linear effect in the linear calibration curve induces a deviation of 1.5 degrees (k) of brightness temperature in the tenth channel (8.3 um, water vapor absorption) of the HIRS/2 and the non-linear effect affects the other channels to a different extent. Based on analyzing non- linearity in two-point calibration curve, a tri-point calibration equation is given. A numerical test of effects of the linear and non-linear calibration models on the accuracy of atmospheric temperature retrievals is carried out.

Estimating the Correlated Observation-Error Characteristics of the Chinese FengYun Microwave Temperature Sounder and Microwave Humidity Sounder

In operational data assimilation systems, observation-error covariance matrices are commonly assumed to be diagonal.However, inter-channel and spatial observation-error correlations are inevitable for satellite radiances. The observation errors of the Microwave Temperature Sounder(MWTS) and Microwave Humidity Sounder(MWHS) onboard the FengYun-3A(FY-3A) and FY-3B satellites are empirically assigned and considered to be uncorrelated when they are assimilated into the WRF model's Community Variational Data Assimilation System(WRFDA). To assimilate MWTS and MWHS measurements optimally, a good characterization of their observation errors is necessary. In this study, background and analysis residuals were used to diagnose the correlated observation-error characteristics of the MWTS and MWHS. It was found that the error standard deviations of the MWTS and MWHS were less than the values used in the WRFDA. MWTS had small inter-channel errors, while MWHS had significant inter-channel errors. The horizontal correlation length scales of MWTS and MWHS were about 120 and 60 km, respectively. A comparison between the diagnosis for instruments onboard the two satellites showed that the observation-error characteristics of the MWTS or MWHS were different when they were onboard different satellites. In addition, it was found that the error statistics were dependent on latitude and scan positions.The forecast experiments showed that using a modified thinning scheme based on diagnosed statistics can improve forecast accuracy.

Latitudinal and Scan-dependent Biases of Microwave Humidity Sounder Measurements and Their Dependences on Cloud Ice Water Path

The relationship between differences in microwave humidity sounder(MHS)–channel biases which represent measured brightness temperatures and model-simulated brightness temperatures, and cloud ice water path(IWP) as well as the influence of the cloud liquid water path(LWP) on the relationship is examined. Seven years(2011–17) of NOAA-18 MHS-derived measured brightness temperatures and IWP/LWP data generated by the NOAA Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System are used. The Community Radiative Transfer Model, version2.2.4, is used to simulate model-simulated brightness temperatures using European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis data as background fields. Scan-angle deviations of the MHS window channel biases range from-1.7 K to1.0 K. The relationships between channels 2, 4, and 5 biases and scan angle are symmetrical about the nadir. The latitudedependent deviations of MHS window channel biases are positive and range from 0–7 K. For MHS non-window channels,the latitudinal deviations between measured brightness temperatures and model-simulated brightness temperatures are larger when the detection height is higher. No systematic warm or cold deviations are found in the global spatial distribution of difference between measured brightness temperatures and model-simulated brightness temperatures over oceans after removing scan-angle and latitudinal deviations. The corrected biases of five different MHS channels decrease differently with respect to the increase in IWP. This decrease is stronger when LWP values are higher.

The first near real-time inverted echo sounder observation in the South China Sea

We report the first near real-time inverted echo sounder(IES)observation in the South China Sea(Fig.1).Although the first IES observation in the South China Sea was in 2005,and the near real-time IES observation module was first developed in 2012(http://www.po.gso.uri.edu/dynamics/IES/hist.html),the real-time IES has never been deployed in the South China Sea until the reporting of observations in this study.IES is a bottom-mounted mooring that records the round-trip acoustic travel time from the bottom to the surface and back(τ).

A Method for the Removal of Ray Refraction Effects in Multibeam Echo Sounder Systems

To a multibeam echo sounder system (MBES), under water sound refraction plays an important role in depth measure- ment accuracy, and errors in sound velocity profile lead to inaccuracies in the measured depth (especially for outer beams). A method is developed to estimate the sound velocity profile based on the depth measured by vertical beam. Using this depth and other pa- rameters, such as t (sound pulse propagation time), θ (beam inclination angle), etc. We can estimate a simple sound velocity profile with which the depth error has been reduced. This method has been tested with a real dataset acquired in the East China Sea.

Mathematical Modeling and Computational Analysis of Underwater Topography with Global Positioning and Echo Sounder Data

This study focuses on change of topography in a water area. Output data from a GPS unit and an echo sounder data were incorporated into analysis for construction of underwater topography. Comparison of two data sets lead to conclusion concerning sedimentation during period from January 2020 to January 2021.

High-resolution bottom detection algorithm for a multibeam echo-sounder system with a U-shaped array

High-resolution approaches such as multiple signal classification and estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques（ESPRIT） are currently employed widely in multibeam echo-sounder（MBES）systems for sea floor bathymetry,where a uniform line array is also required.However,due to the requirements in terms of the system coverage/resolution and installation space constraints,an MBES system usually employs a receiving array with a special shape,which means that high-resolution algorithms cannot be applied directly.In addition,the short-term stationary echo signals make it difficult to estimate the covariance matrix required by the high-resolution approaches,which further increases the complexity when applying the high-resolution algorithms in the MBES systems.The ESPRIT with multiple-angle subarray beamforming is employed to reduce the requirements in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio,number of snapshots,and computational effort.The simulations show that the new processing method can provide better fine-structure resolution.Then a highresolution bottom detection（HRBD） algorithm is developed by combining the new processing method with virtual array transformation.The application of the HRBD algorithm to a U-shaped array is also discuss.The computer simulations and experimental data processing results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Profile and Precipitation Retrievals and Validation Based on Geostationary Sub-Millimeter Atmospheric Sounder

The key factors of temporal and spatial resolution for typhoon observation played an important role in the design of radiometer used for observing typhoon. The NCEP (National Centres for Environmental Prediction) operational global analysis data prepared operationally every six hours were used as the initial field for mesoscale weather research and forecasting model (WRF) and drove the model to output atmospheric parameters such as hydrometeor content, temperature and humidity profiles at different time, which were inputs for the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator (ARTS) to calculate brightness temperature observed from geostationary earth orbit at oxygen absorption and water absorption band. The atmospheric humidity and temperature profiles of typhoon domain were retrieved from geostationary sub-millimetre atmospheric sounder. The results show that the profile retrievals using BP-NN algorithm have a best agreement with those from radiosonde, which is less than 20% and 1 K of root mean square error, respectively. For precipitation rate retrievals, much better agreement with rain gauge and ECMWF datasets, the RMS is between 0.84 to 32.4 mm/h for sea surface 0.89 and 36.13 mm/h for land surface according to the classification by precipitation type.

Simulations on the influence of lunar surface temperature profiles on CE-1 lunar microwave sounder brightness temperature

Surface temperature profile is an important parameter in lunar microwave remote sensing. Based on the analysis of physical properties of the lunar samples brought back by the Apollo and Luna missions, we modeled temporal and spatial variation of lunar surface temperature with the heat conduction equation, and produced temperature distribution in top 6.0 m of lunar regolith of the whole Moon surface. Our simulation results show that the profile of lunar surface temperature varies mainly within the top 20 cm, except at the lunar polar regions where the changes can reach to about 1.0 m depth. The temperature is stable beyond that depth. The variations of lunar surface temperature lead to main changes in brightness temperature (TB) at different channels of the lunar microwave sounder (CELMS) on Chang'E-1 (CE-1). The results of this paper show that the temperature profile influenced CELMS TB, which provides strong validation on the CELMS data, and lays a solid basis for future interpretation and utilization of the CELMS data.

On the Assimilation of Satellite Sounder Data in Cloudy Skies in Numerical Weather Prediction Models

Satellite measurements are an important source of global observations in support of numerical weather prediction（NWP）.The assimilation of satellite radiances under clear skies has greatly improved NWP forecast scores.However,the application of radiances in cloudy skies remains a significant challenge.In order to better assimilate radiances in cloudy skies,it is very important to detect any clear field-of-view（FOV） accurately and assimilate cloudy radiances appropriately.Research progress on both clear FOV detection methodologies and cloudy radiance assimilation techniques are reviewed in this paper.Overview on approaches being implemented in the operational centers and studied by the satellite data assimilation research community is presented.Challenges and future directions for satellite sounder radiance assimilation in cloudy skies in NWP models are also discussed.

Lunar surface dielectric constant,regolith thickness, and ~3He abundance distributions retrieved from the microwave brightness temperatures of CE-1 Lunar Microwave Sounder

Lunar regolith parameters, such as physical temperature, thickness and dielectric constant, are important in studying regolith features, distribution of lunar resources and evolution of the Moon. There had been no measurement obtained by lunar-orbit-borne microwave radiometer applied to evaluate the properties of lunar regolith before CE-1 Lunar Microwave Sounder (CELMS) being launched. CEMLS is the first passive microwave radiometer in the world to sound the surface of the Moon. The brightness temperatures (TB) sensed by CELMS include complicated information on the above geophysical parameters. In this paper, algorithms of retrieving dielectric constant, regolith thickness, and 3He content from CELMS brightness temperatures are developed, and the results are compared with those from literature. The results show that the regolith thicknesses are mostly in the range of 4.0-6.0 m, and 43% of them are bigger than 5.0 m. The content of 3He evaluated by retrieved regolith thickness is about 1.03 million tons.

Calibration and brightness temperature algorithm of CE-1 Lunar Microwave Sounder (CELMS)

CE-1 Lunar Microwave Sounder (CELMS) is the first passive microwave radiometer in the world to sound the surface of the Moon in the lunar orbit at altitude of 200 km. The scientific objective of CELMS is to obtain global brightness temperature (TB) of the Moon, to retrieve information on lunar regolith, and to evaluate the distribution of helium-3 on the Moon implanted by solar wind. Before launch of CELMS, a series of experiments were carried out in laboratories to test the performances of the systems, and to calibrate the responses between the input of TB and the output of voltage from the receivers. However, the thermal condition exposed to CELMS is more complicated in lunar orbit than on the Earth, which makes the temperatures of different parts of CELMS wave vary greatly, and the cosmic background is not very clean due to the pointing of cold space antenna to the direction of the satellite running, which brings uncertainties into data-processing of CELMS when the temperature of cold space is used as a calibrator. Furthermore, the lack of knowledge on the lunar ingredients and compositions, distributions of physical temperatures, and properties on lunar microwave radiation leads to difficulties in validating the measurements and retrievals of CELMS. By analyzing the results of ground experiments and the measurements of CELMS in-orbit, along with our knowledge of the properties of lunar surface, here we give algorithms on calibration and antenna pattern correction (APC) of CELMS. We also describe in detail the principle of microwave transfer among the elements of CELMS, and discuss the method on testing calibration parameters of the system. In addition, the theory and model on correction antenna pattern of CELMS are developed by comparing antenna temperatures by CELMS with those simulated by microwave radiative transfer models. The global distribution of TB is given and the features of TB are analyzed. Our results show rich information included in TB on the properties of lunar regolith, especially the thickness and dielectric constant, which are nearly directly reflected by the differences of TB at day and those at night.