Exploring the Use of PAZ Polarimetric Radio Occultation (PRO) Data within JEDI

Abstract

Launched on February 22, 2018, the Radio-Occultation and Heavy Precipitation (ROHP) experiment aboard PAZ (ROHP-PAZ), has demonstrated and validated the polarimetric radio occultation (PRO) concept. Unlike the traditional radio occultation technique, the PRO uses the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals acquired at two orthogonal polarizations. From the differential phase delay, the effects of large rain droplets and frozen particles along the ray-path can be observed, coincidentally with the traditional bending angle from which temperature and moisture profiles are estimated. Such data have the potential to complement current observing systems with their unique high vertical resolutions and limb-viewing geometry.

Working closely with data providers and processing teams in Spain and JPL, JCSDA has initiated an effort to explore the use of the PRO data within the Joint Effort for Satellite Data Assimilation (JEDI) system. The JEDI system is slated to be the next generation data assimilation system for NOAA and other organizations' operational applications. This effort aims to simulate the PRO signal using a 2D ray-tracing RO operator and Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) and implement it as a UFO forward operator in JEDI. Initial assessment of the PRO product and simulations will be presented.