The Impact of the Assimilation of Dropsonde Observations during PALAU2005 in ALERA

Abstract

The effect of the assimilation of dropsonde data over the tropical western Pacific was investigated in an objective analysis. In June 2005, 30 dropsondes were released on four separate flight days. The data impact was assessed using the objective analysis dataset of “ALERA.” The analysis of the zonal wind field over the tropical western Pacific in ALERA revealed large errors corresponding to active convection. These errors were reduced by 1-3 m s^-1 due to the assimilation of the dropsondes. The impact signal due to the assimilation of the dropsondes propagated northward and appeared significantly around Japan. The phase and group speeds of the impact signal at 700 hPa were approximately 3 m s^-1 and 12 m s^-1, respectively. The former speed was consistent with the mean meridional wind speed, and the latter speed roughly corresponded to the meridional group speed of Rossby waves with wavelengths of a few thousand kilometers.