Added Value of Three‐Dimensional Horizontal Winds From Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder for Typhoon Forecast in a Regional NWP Model

Abstract

High temporal resolution geostationary hyperspectral infrared sounders can simultaneously profile atmospheric temperature and moisture, and track moisture features to provide 3D horizontal winds in clear and partially cloudy scenarios. The thermodynamic information obtained has been integral to enhancing tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts. However, the potential benefits derived from the dynamic information provided by geostationary hyperspectral infrared sounders (GeoHIS) are yet to be fully comprehended for numerical weather prediction (NWP). With the re‐estimated observation error and multivariate hydrometeor background error covariance, the 3D horizontal winds from the Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder (GIIRS) are synergistically assimilated with the hydrometeor information. The impact of the GIIRS‐derived 3D horizontal wind assimilation on Typhoon Maria (2018) and Lekima (2019) analysis and forecast are evaluated. The results show that the assimilating GIIRS‐derived 3D horizontal wind notably reduces the RMSEs of analysis and forecast, particularly in the U and V components. The improvement in accuracy of large‐scale fields substantially enhances the forecasts of typhoons' track and maximum wind speed, as well as the central sea‐level pressure. Moreover, the prediction of the spatial distribution and intensity for landfall precipitation is also improved. The detailed diagnoses of the Maria show that a more southerly subtropical high generated by the additional horizontal wind assimilation improves the rainfall spatial distribution, and the reasonable water vapor transportation caused by the improved dynamic conditions corrects the precipitation intensity. This work highlights the importance of dynamic information in TC forecasting and emphasizes the need for efficient and high‐precision 3D wind measurements to improve NWP.