Operational Assimilation of GPS Zenith Total Delay Observations into the Met Office Numerical Weather Prediction Models

Zenith total delay (ZTD) observations derived from ground-based GPS receivers have been assimilated operationally into the Met Office North Atlantic and European (NAE) numerical weather prediction (NWP) model since 2007. Assimilation trials were performed using the Met Office NAE NWP model at both 12- and 24-km resolution to assess the impact of ZTDs on forecasts. ZTDs were found generally to increase relative humidity in the analysis, increasing the humidity bias compared to radiosonde observations, which persisted through the forecasts at some vertical levels. Improvements to cloud forecasts were also identified. Assimilation of ZTDs using both three-dimensional and four-dimensional variational data assimilation (3D-Var/4D-Var) was investigated, and it is found that assimilation at 4D-Var does not deliver any clear benefit over 3D-Var in the periods studied with the NAE model. This paper summarizes the methods used to assimilate ZTDs at the Met Office and presents the results of impact trials performed prior to operational assimilation. Future improvements to the assimilation methods are discussed.