Global OSSE Systems Capabilities at NOAA

Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) are a vital component of any assessment of a prospective new observing system, highlighting potential analysis and forecast impacts. When carrying out OSSEs on a global scale, it is important that the system utilized for these studies closely resembles those used or planned for operations, within feasibility limits. With this in mind, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) has transitioned to using the Finite-Volume Cubed Sphere Global Forecast System (FV3GFS) in its OSSEs, replacing the previous 3DEnVar GFS system. The predictability of the FV3GFS OSSE system is found to produce forecast skill that is more comparable to that using real observations than the 3DEnVar OSSE/real-world-observation comparison. Additional improvements to simulation architecture, experimental design, and initial projects utilizing the FV3GFS OSSE system will be discussed.