The roles of Observing system simulation experiments at JCSDA and NCEP

OSSEs conducted at NCEP have focused on evaluating data impacts on a global scale using NPOESS instruments, particularly Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL). This effort will be continued by the Joint Centers for Satellite and Data Assimilation (JCSDA) who willconduct sets of experiments that will have implications for NPOESS plans for future observing systems and instrument types. Various collaborations among NWS/NCEP, NASA/GSFC, NESDIS/ORA, OAR, and DOD are conducted by the JCSDA.

In Addition, OSSEs to examine the impacts of the CrIS, the ATMS systems, and the Hyperspectral Microwave Sounding Instrument (HyMS) of several hundred channels have been proposed. The OSSEs for AIRS, other AQUA instruments, and cloud motion vectors, will be continued and compared with real time forecasting experiments. Those results will be used as reference to evaluate other instruments. Efficient data thinning and cloud handling methodologies will also be investigated. OSSEs for the above mentioned instruments together with DWL will continue to be tested in ordered to evaluate the combined impact achieved with all these instruments.

Future plans include the use of a new higher resolution nature run, as well as coordination with THORPEX research activities.