Satellite Data Assimilation of Upper-Level Sounding Channels in HWRF with Two Different Model Tops

The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) onboard the NOAA satellites NOAA-18 and NOAA-19 and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) MetOp-A, the hyperspectral Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) onboard Aqua, the High resolution In-fraRed Sounder (HIRS) onboard NOAA-19 and MetOp-A, and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) onboard Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite provide upper-level sounding channels in tropical cyclone environments. Assimilation of these upper-level sounding channels data in the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) system with two different model tops is investigated for the tropical storms Debby and Beryl and hurricanes Sandy and Isaac that occurred in 2012. It is shown that the HWRF system with a higher model top allows more upper-level microwave and infrared sounding channels data to be assimilated into HWRF due to a more accurate upper-level background profile. The track and intensity forecasts produced by the HWRF data assimilation and forecast system with a higher model top are more accurate than those with a lower model top.