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An Observing System Simulation Experiment For The Unmanned Aircraft System Data Impact On Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasts

Abstract

High-altitude, long-endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems (HALE UAS) are capable of extended flights for atmospheric sampling. A case study was conducted to evaluate the potential impact of dropwindsonde observations from HALE UAS on tropical cyclone track prediction; tropical cyclone intensity was not addressed. This study employs a global observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) developed at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA ESRL) that is based on the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data assimilation system and Global Forecast System (GFS) forecast model. Different strategies for dropwindsonde deployment and UAS flight paths were compared. The introduction of UAS-deployed dropwindsondes was found to consistently improve the track forecast skill during the early forecast up to 96 hours, with the caveat that the experiments omitted both vortex relocation and dropwindsondes from manned flights in the tropical cyclone region. The more effective UAS dropwindsonde deployment patterns sampled both the environment and the body of the tropical cyclone.

Article / Publication Data
Active/Online
YES
Volume
142
Available Metadata
Accepted On
July 31, 2014
DOI ↗
Fiscal Year
Peer Reviewed
YES
Publication Name
Monthly Weather Review
Published On
November 01, 2014
Publisher Name
American Meteorological Society
Print Volume
142
Print Number
11
Page Range
4357-4363
Issue
11
Submitted On
June 19, 2014
URL ↗

Authors

Authors who have authored or contributed to this publication.