Progress Towards an OSSE Investigating a Constellation of 4-5 μm Infrared Sounders

NASA is investigating the utility of a strategically-constructed constellation of infrared sounders onboard small satellites to be able to ultimately provide spaceborne measurements of wind. The method proposed by instrument teams is to fly multiple instruments in complementary orbits so that atmospheric motion vector measurements can be made.  As part of the investigation of this measurement approach, the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is performing a set of Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) to demonstrate the value of the wind measurements as well as the corresponding infrared radiance observations that will come from the constellation.  This work is being performed as an extension of the GMAO OSSE infrastructure and is in the context of the MISTIC(tm) Winds concept. It is noted, though, that this will provide insight to the overall measurement strategy.  As the experimentation will still be underway, the ongoing progress to fully and properly utilize these new measurement types will be the primary focus of this talk.  This will include the simulation of the atmospheric motion vectors retrieved via the constellation, the simulation and validation of the radiance observations measured via the constellation, the specification of observation errors for both winds and radiances, and the extension of the data assimilation system to utilize these additional observations on top of a full global observing system.