Data assimilation and its applications

Data assimilation and its applications

^*Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; and ^‡Department of Meteorology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4520

Abstract

In data assimilation, one prepares the grid data as the best possible estimate of the true initial state of a considered system by merging various measurements irregularly distributed in space and time, with a prior knowledge of the state given by a numerical model. Because it may improve forecasting or modeling and increase physical understanding of considered systems, data assimilation now plays a very important role in studies of atmospheric and oceanic problems. Here, three examples are presented to illustrate the use of new types of observations and the ability of improving forecasting or modeling.

Footnotes

↵ † To whom reprint requests should be addressed at: Building 932, Zhong Guan Cun, Apartment 512, Beijing 100086, China. E-mail: wab{at}lasgsgi4.iap.ac.cn.
This paper is a summary of a session presented at the second annual Chinese–American Frontiers of Science symposium, held August 20–22, 1999, at the New Century Hotel, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Abbreviations:

3D,

three-dimensional;

GPS,

global positioning system;

MET,

meteorology;

NCEP,

National Centers for Environmental Prediction;

BDA,

bogus data assimilation