Comprehensive Test-Rig for WRF data Assimilation Developments at NCAR Data Assimilation Testbed Center

The NCAR Data Assimilation Testbed Center (DATC) performed month-long tests of the latest data assimilation developments for NCAR's WRF Three-Dimensional Data Assimilation system (WRF-Var) in various domains during the hurricane season in 2008. One of the examples of such developments is the assimilation of AIRS radiance data. The observation errors and background errors were estimated for those specific domains. The analyses and the four-time-per-day weather forecasts were compared and verified against corresponding profiles from conventional data (e.g., radiosonde) and/or the ECMWF analyses. The impact of these developments on the forecasts was assessed.