Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

An Observing System Simulation Experiment for the Unmanned Aircraft System Data Impact on Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasts

N. C. Privé * Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Boulder, Colorado

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Yuanfu Xie Global Systems Division, NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

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Steven Koch NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Robert Atlas NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, Florida

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Sharanya J. Majumdar Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida

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Ross N. Hoffman ** Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, Florida

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-14-00197.1
Page(s):
4357–4363
Restricted access

Abstract

High-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems (HALE UAS) are capable of extended flights for atmospheric sampling. A case study was conducted to evaluate the potential impact of dropwindsonde observations from HALE UAS on tropical cyclone track prediction; tropical cyclone intensity was not addressed. This study employs a global observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) developed at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA/ESRL) that is based on the NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction gridpoint statistical interpolation (GSI) data assimilation system and Global Forecast System (GFS) model. Different strategies for dropwindsonde deployment and UAS flight paths were compared. The introduction of UAS-deployed dropwindsondes was found to consistently improve the track forecast skill during the early forecast up to 96 h, with the caveat that the experiments omitted both vortex relocation and dropwindsondes from manned flights in the tropical cyclone region. The more effective UAS dropwindsonde deployment patterns sampled both the environment and the body of the tropical cyclone.

Corresponding author address: N. C. Privé, NASA GSFC, Code 610.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771. E-mail: nikki.prive@nasa.gov

Abstract

High-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems (HALE UAS) are capable of extended flights for atmospheric sampling. A case study was conducted to evaluate the potential impact of dropwindsonde observations from HALE UAS on tropical cyclone track prediction; tropical cyclone intensity was not addressed. This study employs a global observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) developed at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA/ESRL) that is based on the NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction gridpoint statistical interpolation (GSI) data assimilation system and Global Forecast System (GFS) model. Different strategies for dropwindsonde deployment and UAS flight paths were compared. The introduction of UAS-deployed dropwindsondes was found to consistently improve the track forecast skill during the early forecast up to 96 h, with the caveat that the experiments omitted both vortex relocation and dropwindsondes from manned flights in the tropical cyclone region. The more effective UAS dropwindsonde deployment patterns sampled both the environment and the body of the tropical cyclone.

Corresponding author address: N. C. Privé, NASA GSFC, Code 610.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771. E-mail: nikki.prive@nasa.gov
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