An Observing System Simulation Experiment with a Constellation of Radio Occultation Satellites

NOAA conducted comprehensive global Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) to determine the potential value of proposed Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) constellations in current operational numerical weather prediction systems. These experiments were required by the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. An advanced “next-generation” global OSSE system with a 7-km-resolution, non-hydrostatic nature run generated by NASA/GAMO, and a lower resolution version of the 2015-year NCEP’s operational suite was used in the experiments. Existing conventional and satellite radiance observations were simulated with realistic geographical coverage and error characteristic structures. The additional RO observations were simulated with the geographic sampling expected from the Constellation Observing Satellites for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate-2 (COSMIC-2) system, with 6 equatorial (total of ~6,000 soundings/day) and 6 polar (total of ~6,000 soundings/day) receiver satellites. During this talk, a description of the OSSE system and the main findings of the study will be discussed.