Real-time assimilation and synoptic application of local TOVS raw radiance observations

This paper describes the physically based, real-time TOVS (TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder) retrieval system currently employed in the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to generate meteorological fields from locally received TOVS raw radiances. It summarises the cloud height and ozone determination methods and the radiance and transmittance tuning techniques employed in the system. It discusses the synoptic application of the data and recent numerical experiments designed to investigate the impact of locally processed TOVS data from the system on operational Australian region numerical weather prediction. These experiments, performed in a data environment which already included National Environmental Satellite Data Information Service (NESDIS) low resolution TOVS data and locally generated cloud-drift winds, indicated the potential of these data to improve numerical forecasts in the Australian region. The system is now used to provide data for direct use in the operational regional analysis prognosis system (RASP).