7.1    Exploring WRF-Chem/DART as a Research-Based NWP System    with Chemistry

Arellano, Ave, University of Arizona

We present the development and application of an ensemble-based data assimilation system for regional air quality studies.  The system includes the community model, WRF-Chem and the community software, DART. This system is built upon the broad experience, within the WRF-Chem development and user community in simulating radiatively- and chemically-active atmospheric constituents, as well as, within the WRF/DART community on their experience in assimilating meteorological observations for local to regional studies. Here, we apply WRF-Chem/DART to explore the utility of satellite-derived measurements of atmospheric constituents (i.e. O3, aerosols, CO, and CO2) in improving the predictive capability of WRF-Chem in simulating the distribution of these constituents and their interaction with meteorology. In this talk, we will show results of assimilating MODIS aerosol optical depth, MOPITT CO, IASI O3, or the ACOS XCO2 satellite retrievals, on top of assimilating meteorological observations in WRF-Chem. In this manner, the system mimics a numerical weather prediction with chemistry, which then offers a useful tool in assessing the value of these retrievals to chemical weather forecasting and analysis.