Improving Boundary Layer Data Assimilation in the NASA GEOS System

The Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) developed by the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office assimilates a wide range of observations to support various NASA Earth Science missions. In our latest efforts, we have focused on improving planetary boundary layer (PBL) thermodynamic structure using data from multiple observing systems. In particular, we have developed strategies and infrastructure to assimilate PBL height data derived from radiosondes, GNSS radio occultation, space-based lidar (CALIPSO, CATS, IceSat-2), ground-based lidar (MPLNET) and wind profilers to produce global PBL height analyses. We also explore methods to better represent capping inversions by using PBL height data together with other observations in the GEOS data assimilation to adjust background error covariance and enhance model PBL parameterization performance. We will discuss the efforts to improve the accuracy of PBL capping inversions in GEOS through the utilization of PBL height data.