The Impact of Cross‐track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) Cloud‐Cleared Radiances on Hurricane Joaquin (2015) and Matthew (2016) Forecasts

Hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounders provide high vertical resolution atmospheric sounding information that can improve the forecast skill in numerical weather prediction. Commonly, only clear radiances are assimilated, because IR sounder observations are highly affected by clouds. A cloud‐clearing (CC) technique, which removes the cloud effects from an IR cloudy field of view (FOV) and derives the cloud‐cleared radiances (CCRs) or clear‐sky equivalent radiances, can be an alternative yet effective way to take advantage of the thermodynamic information from cloudy skies in data assimilation. This study develops a Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)‐based CC method for deriving Cross‐track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) CCRs under partially cloudy conditions. Due to the lack of absorption bands on VIIRS, two important quality control steps are implemented in the CC process. Validation using VIIRS clear radiances indicates that the CC method can effectively obtain the CrIS CCRs for FOVs with partial cloud cover. To compare the impacts from assimilation of CrIS original radiances and CCRs, three experiments are carried out on two storm cases, Hurricane Joaquin (2015) and Hurricane Matthew (2016), using Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation assimilation system and Weather Research and Forecasting‐Advanced Research Version models. At the analysis time, more CrIS observations are assimilated when using CrIS CCRs than with CrIS original radiances. Comparing temperature, specific humidity, and U/V winds with radiosondes indicates that the data impacts are growing larger with longer time forecasts (beyond 72 h forecast). Hurricane track forecasts also show improvements from the assimilation of CrIS CCRs due to better weather system forecasts. The impacts of CCRs on intensity are basically neutral with mixed positive and negative results. Key Points A methodology has been developed for VIIRS‐based CrIS cloud clearing for CrIS radiance assimilation in cloudy skies Quality control steps on VIIRS‐based CrIS cloud‐cleared radiances (CCRs) are important for applications due to lack of absorption bands in VIIRS The impacts on the forecast fields of Hurricanes Joaquin (2015) and Matthew (2016) show potential operational application of VIIRS‐based CrIS CCRs in NWP