Lidar-Measured Winds from Space: A Key Component for Weather and Climate Prediction

Wayman E. Baker
Search for other papers by Wayman E. Baker in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
George D. Emmitt
Search for other papers by George D. Emmitt in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Franklin Robertson
Search for other papers by Franklin Robertson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Robert M. Atlas
Search for other papers by Robert M. Atlas in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
John E. Molinari
Search for other papers by John E. Molinari in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
David A. Bowdle
Search for other papers by David A. Bowdle in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Jan Paegle
Search for other papers by Jan Paegle in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
R. Michael Hardesty
Search for other papers by R. Michael Hardesty in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Robert T. Menzies
Search for other papers by Robert T. Menzies in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
T. N. Krishnamurti
Search for other papers by T. N. Krishnamurti in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Robert A. Brown
Search for other papers by Robert A. Brown in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Madison J. Post
Search for other papers by Madison J. Post in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
John R. Anderson
Search for other papers by John R. Anderson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Andrew C. Lorenc
Search for other papers by Andrew C. Lorenc in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
James McElroy
Search for other papers by James McElroy in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Full access

We are aware of a technical issue preventing figures and tables from showing in some newly published articles in the full-text HTML view.
While we are resolving the problem, please use the online PDF version of these articles to view figures and tables.

The deployment of a space-based Doppler lidar would provide information that is fundamental to advancing the understanding and prediction of weather and climate.

This paper reviews the concepts of wind measurement by Doppler lidar, highlights the results of some observing system simulation experiments with lidar winds, and discusses the important advances in earth system science anticipated with lidar winds.

Observing system simulation experiments, conducted using two different general circulation models, have shown 1) that there is a significant improvement in the forecast accuracy over the Southern Hemisphere and tropical oceans resulting from the assimilation of simulated satellite wind data, and 2) that wind data are significantly more effective than temperature or moisture data in controlling analysis error. Because accurate wind observations are currently almost entirely unavailable for the vast majority of tropical cyclones worldwide, lidar winds have the potential to substantially improve tropical cyclone forecasts. Similarly, to improve water vapor flux divergence calculations, a direct measure of the ageostrophic wind is needed since the present level of uncertainty cannot be reduced with better temperature and moisture soundings alone.

*National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Camp Springs, Maryland.

+Simpson Weather Associates, Charlottesville, Virginia.

#NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.

@NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

&State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York.

**University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama.

++University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

##NOAA/Environmental Technology Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado.

@@NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

&&The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

***University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

+++Space Science and Engineering Center, Madison, Wisconsin.

###United Kingdom Meteorological Office, Bracknell, United Kingdom.

@@@Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Wayman E. Baker, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746.

The deployment of a space-based Doppler lidar would provide information that is fundamental to advancing the understanding and prediction of weather and climate.

This paper reviews the concepts of wind measurement by Doppler lidar, highlights the results of some observing system simulation experiments with lidar winds, and discusses the important advances in earth system science anticipated with lidar winds.

Observing system simulation experiments, conducted using two different general circulation models, have shown 1) that there is a significant improvement in the forecast accuracy over the Southern Hemisphere and tropical oceans resulting from the assimilation of simulated satellite wind data, and 2) that wind data are significantly more effective than temperature or moisture data in controlling analysis error. Because accurate wind observations are currently almost entirely unavailable for the vast majority of tropical cyclones worldwide, lidar winds have the potential to substantially improve tropical cyclone forecasts. Similarly, to improve water vapor flux divergence calculations, a direct measure of the ageostrophic wind is needed since the present level of uncertainty cannot be reduced with better temperature and moisture soundings alone.

*National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Camp Springs, Maryland.

+Simpson Weather Associates, Charlottesville, Virginia.

#NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.

@NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

&State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York.

**University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama.

++University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

##NOAA/Environmental Technology Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado.

@@NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

&&The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

***University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

+++Space Science and Engineering Center, Madison, Wisconsin.

###United Kingdom Meteorological Office, Bracknell, United Kingdom.

@@@Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Wayman E. Baker, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746.
Save