About the Group
The aim of the working group for use of ATOVS in NWP is to increase the
impact of satellite data, in particular ATOVS, in NWP. The group also considers
"TOVS heritage" data such as AIRS. The group achieves its goals by providing
a means of communication from NWP centres to satellite data agencies and
by exchange of idea and information on new technique and progress.
The scope of the group includes both global models and regional and high
resolution models. The groups recommendations and actions are usually to
ask satellite agencies to provide data in a form which is easier for NWP
centres to use, to provide feedback to satellite agencies on any practical
difficulties being experienced and for NWP centres to share information
and experiences on techniques and assumptions. Occasionally the group suggests
new areas of work or advises NWP centres to change their ATOVS processing
in a particular way. The most obvious example was in promoting the assimilation
of radiances.
Since 1999 NWP the use of ATOVS has become widespread with many centres
reporting strong positive impact, especially when directly assimilating
the radiances.
It is now known that the impact of ATOVS is comparable or larger than that
from radiosondes in the northern hemisphere. The impact of satellite data,
and ATOVS data in particular, continues to dominate over other data types
in the tropics and southern hemisphere.
Working group reports in pdf
This ITWG working group is a long standing sub group of ITWG.The group also discusses relevant issues for radiative transfer models and radio frequency interference but these issues are covered by the respective ITWG sub groups.
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