Improving Forecasts of Tropical Cyclones using Assimilation of ATMS and GMI Retrievals into HWRF

We present the initial results of assimilating retrieved profiles of temperature and humidity into Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast (HWRF) system using Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data assimilation (DA) system. The profiles are retrieved using a novel technique named Bayesian Monte Carlo Integration (BMCI). We use different techniques to evaluate the results including TCVital data to assess the intensity and track of predicted hurricanes as well as some limited comparison with satellite observations. The ultimate goal is to investigate two microwave sounders Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) and Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) and the DA experiments for 4 hurricanes including hurricanes Sandy, Iselle, Amanda, and Joaquin. For each TC case, three pairs of forecasting and DA experiments will be carried out and results will be evaluated against control runs with no satellite DA.