Assimilation of Satellite Cloud Data into the GMAO Finite-Volume Data Assimilation System Using a Parameter Estimation Method. Part I: Motivation and Algorithm Description From: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences | Date: November 1, 2007| Author: Norris, Peter M; Silva, Arlindo M da | Copyright American Meteorological Society Nov 2007. Provided by ProQuest LLC.Copyright information

ABSTRACT

General circulation models are unable to resolve subgrid-scale moisture variability and associated cloudiness and so must parameterize grid-scale cloud properties. This typically involves various empirical assumptions and a failure to capture the full range (synoptic, geographic, diurnal) of the subgrid-scale variability. A variational parameter estimation technique is employed to adjust empirical model cloud parameters in both space and time, in order to better represent assi...