Improvements to the Specification of the Mass and Wind Field in the Southern Hemisphere from Use of Earth Observations from Space

Continuing improvements to the specification of the mass and wind field in the southern hemisphere are being derived from use of Earth Observations from Space (EOS). For example they extend the length of a high quality 500HPa global numerical forecast by a factor of four when the forecast is verified using analyses incorporating both satellite and conventional (all) data. Recently a number of instruments have been placed in space for use in NWP and others are soon to follow. These include the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) on Himawari-8, the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on GOES-R, the wind lidar ADM Aeolus, CrIS on JPSS and the COSMIC-2 constellation of satellites. The important contributions some of these new instruments have and will make, particularly over Australia and in the southern hemisphere, are discussed in some detail. In particular the impact of near continuous, error characterized, locally generated ten minute wind data (Atmospheric Motion Vectors ) from Himawari-8 on operational analysis and forecasting will be described. These ten minute data have been tested and are now being used in operational NWP. Initial availability of these data led to the identification of inconsistencies with contemporaneous analyses. The data are also being examined in relation to the prediction of extreme weather. Recent results from these activities and others related to Radio Occultation will be presented.