THE ASSIMILATION OF RESEARCH SATELLITE MEASUREMENTS USING THE MET OFFICE NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION DATA ASSIMILATION SYSTEM

Temperature, ozone and water vapour measurements from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) have been assimilated using the Met Office numerical weather prediction data assimilation system. This paper describes the results of a three week assimilation of Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), ozone and temperature measurements from the late winter of 1997. Internal diagnostics of the assimilation system and independent observations have been used to evaluate the analysed ozone fields. No inconsistencies have been found between the MLS observations and the analysed fields. Good agreement was also found between the assimilated fields and independent observations (HALOE and TOMS). We also intend to assimilate GOME ozone measurements over the same period to determine what differences occur in the final assimilated product, when using these the two different observation datasets.