Impact of GEOS-5 Data on Hurricane Forecasts Using WRF

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling system is a next-generation mesoscale forecast model and assimilation system that has incorporated modern software framework, advanced dynamics, numeric and data assimilation techniques, a multiple moveable nesting capability, and improved physical packages. The system is designed to be a flexible, state-of-the-art, portable code that is efficient in a massively parallel computing environment. It is suitable for use in a broad spectrum of applications across scales ranging from meters to thousands of kilometers. Such applications include research and operational numerical weather prediction (NWP), data assimilation and parameterized-physics research, downscaling climate simulations, driving air quality models, atmosphere-ocean coupling, and idealized simulations (e.g. boundary-layer eddies, convection, baroclinic waves and etc). Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System Version 5 (GEOS-5) is a ESMF-compliant- GCM data assimilation system which includes a finite volume dynamical core, a new set of physics packages implemented as ESMF gridded components, a ESMF-compliant catchment land surface, and a Grid-point Statistical Interpolation (GSI) analysis system through a collaboration between NCEP and NASA/GSFC Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). GEOS-5 system assimilates several satellite products on to its 1/3^{0} longitude by 1/4^{0} latitude grid while NCEP/GFS data resolution is at T384 (~35km). At NASA/GSFC, we are performing sensitivity tests using WRF to examine the impact of GEOS-5 global analysis data on hurricane forecasts. In this meeting, we will present results from WRF runs driven by both GEOS-5 and NCEP/GFS data.