Effects of Clear-Sky Assimilation of GPM Microwave Imager on the Analysis and Forecast of Typhoon “Chan-Hom”

The module of assimilating a new GMI (GPM Microwave Imager) satellite detector was built in the framework of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) and its three-dimensional variational (3DVar) data assimilation system (WRFDA). Typhoon “Chan-Hom” in the 2015 Pacific typhoon season was selected to verify the effectivity of the GMI clear-sky assimilation. The results show that, after assimilating the GMI radiance data, the background information in the model is modified positively when compared with the experiment without any assimilation and the one with assimilation of the conventional data. The obvious warm core structure of the typhoon, the modified geopotential height field, and the intensified circulation of the typhoon are favorable for the northwest twist of the typhoon, thus contributing to a better track forecast with a maximum error below 160 km in the 48-h deterministic forecast.