Use of Observing System Simulation Experiments in the United States

Zeng, Xubin; Atlas, Robert; Birk, Ronald J.; Carr, Frederick H.; Carrier, Matthew; Cucurull, Lídia; Hooke, William H.; Kalnay, Eugenia; Murtugudde, Raghu; Posselt, Derek J.; Russell, J. L.; Tyndall, Daniel P.; Weller, Robert A.; Zhang, Fuqing

doi:10.1175/bams-d-19-0155.1

Cited by 50 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The involvement of the modeling community is key for several aspects, since it can identify which observations are needed to improve the models and reduce the biases and provide guidance on the optimal observing design using data assimilation tools (Davidson et al, 2019). In fact, Observing System Evaluation (OS-Eval) methods have been used for decades by space agencies and others to test different designs of new satellite systems prior to their launch, and help justify investments in new observing systems (Zeng et al, 2020). Due to the large systematic errors in ocean models, increased sophistication in OS-Eval methodologies is needed, as well as multi-system evaluations to improve the robustness of the results and reduce system-dependency (Fujii et al, 2019).…”

Section: Establishing Clear Design and Implementation Plansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean Integration: The Needs and Challenges of Effective Coordination Within the Ocean Observing System

et al. 2022

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Understanding and sustainably managing complex environments such as marine ecosystems benefits from an integrated approach to ensure that information about all relevant components and their interactions at multiple and nested spatiotemporal scales are considered. This information is based on a wide range of ocean observations using different systems and approaches. An integrated approach thus requires effective collaboration between areas of expertise in order to improve coordination at each step of the ocean observing value chain, from the design and deployment of multi-platform observations to their analysis and the delivery of products, sometimes through data assimilation in numerical models. Despite significant advances over the last two decades in more cooperation across the ocean observing activities, this integrated approach has not yet been fully realized. The ocean observing system still suffers from organizational silos due to independent and often disconnected initiatives, the strong and sometimes destructive competition across disciplines and among scientists, and the absence of a well-established overall governance framework. Here, we address the need for enhanced organizational integration among all the actors of ocean observing, focusing on the occidental systems. We advocate for a major evolution in the way we collaborate, calling for transformative scientific, cultural, behavioral, and management changes. This is timely because we now have the scientific and technical capabilities as well as urgent societal and political drivers. The ambition of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and the various efforts to grow a sustainable ocean economy and effective ocean protection efforts all require a more integrated approach to ocean observing. After analyzing the barriers that currently prevent this full integration within the occidental systems, we suggest nine approaches for breaking down the silos and promoting better coordination and sharing. These recommendations are related to the organizational framework, the ocean science culture, the system of recognition and rewards, the data management system, the ocean governance structure, and the ocean observing drivers and funding. These reflections are intended to provide food for thought for further dialogue between all parties involved and trigger concrete actions to foster a real transformational change in ocean observing.

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Section: Establishing Clear Design and Implementation Plansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean Integration: The Needs and Challenges of Effective Coordination Within the Ocean Observing System

et al. 2022

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“…For this reason, OSSEs are a typical first step when testing the impact of new observations, or for testing DA technology in many Earth science problems. In fact, OSSEs are routinely used at NASA and NOAA (see, e.g., Zeng et al 2020;Hoffman & Atlas 2016;Errico et al 2013).…”

Section: Observing System Simulation Experiments (Osses)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A testbed for geomagnetic data assimilation

Gwirtz

Morzfeld

Kuang

et al. 2021

Geophysical Journal International

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Summary Geomagnetic data assimilation merges past and present-day observations of the Earth’s magnetic field with numerical geodynamo models and the results are used to initialize forecasts. We present a new “proxy model” that can be used to test, or rapidly prototype, numerical techniques for geomagnetic data assimilation. The basic idea for constructing a proxy is to capture the conceptual difficulties one encounters when assimilating observations into high-resolution, 3D geodynamo simulations, but at a much lower computational cost. The framework of using proxy models as “gate-keepers” for numerical methods that could/should be considered for more extensive testing on operational models has proven useful in numerical weather prediction, where advances in data assimilation and, hence, improved forecast skill, are at least in part enabled by the common use of a wide range of proxy models. We also present a large set of systematic data assimilation experiments with the proxy to reveal the importance of localization and inflation in geomagnetic data assimilation.

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“…Observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) are used to assess the potential information in a new set of measurements before they are deployed. In the case of satellite remote sensing, there are several types of experiment that may be performed (Zeng et al, 2020): a sampling OSSE, in which an orbit simulator is used to determine how often the observing system views features of interest (e.g., Crespo et al, 2017); a geophysical variable (or retrieval) OSSE, in which synthetic measurements are used to estimate synthetic geophysical variables and their uncertainties (e.g., Xu et al, 2019 and this manuscript); and impact OSSEs, the most common of which are those that assess the effect of assimilation of new measurements on a weather forecast (e.g., Hoffman and Atlas, 2016;Posselt et al, 2021). This paper describes a set of geophysical variable/retrieval OSSEs, and the observing system characteristics (spatial and temporal resolution and uncertainties).…”

Section: Use Of Synthetic Retrievals In Observation System Simulation Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulated Multispectral Temperature and Atmospheric Composition Retrievals for the JPL GEO-IR Sounder

Natraj

Luo

Blavier

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Abstract. Satellite measurements enable quantification of atmospheric temperature, humidity, and trace gas vertical profiles. The majority of current instruments operate on polar orbiting satellites and either in the thermal/mid-wave or in the shortwave infrared spectral regions. We present a new multispectral instrument concept for improved measurements from geostationary orbit (GEO) with sensitivity to the boundary layer. The JPL GEO-IR sounder, which is an imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer, uses a wide spectral range (1–15.4 μm), encompassing both reflected solar and thermal emission bands to improve sensitivity to the lower troposphere and boundary layer. We perform retrieval simulations for both clean and polluted scenarios that also encompass different temperature and humidity profiles. The results illustrate the benefits of combining shortwave and thermal infrared measurements. In particular, the former adds information in the boundary layer, while the latter helps to separate near-surface and mid-tropospheric variability. The performance of the JPL GEO-IR sounder is similar to or better than currently operational instruments. The proposed concept is expected to improve weather forecasting, severe storm tracking and forecasting, and also benefit local and global air quality and climate research.

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Use of Observing System Simulation Experiments in the United States

Abstract: Capsule Summary We briefly review the use of Observing System Simulation Experiments in the U.S. and discuss their values and limitations, leading to an expert consensus on five recommendations for moving forward.

Cited by 50 publications

References 8 publications

Ocean Integration: The Needs and Challenges of Effective Coordination Within the Ocean Observing System

Ocean Integration: The Needs and Challenges of Effective Coordination Within the Ocean Observing System

A testbed for geomagnetic data assimilation

Simulated Multispectral Temperature and Atmospheric Composition Retrievals for the JPL GEO-IR Sounder

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