Improving the Analyses and Forecasts of a Tropical Squall Line Using Upper Tropospheric Infrared Satellite Observations

The advent of modern geostationary satellite infrared radiance observations has noticeably improved numerical weather forecasts and analyses. However, compared to midlatitude weather systems and tropical cyclones, research into using infrared radiance observations for numerically predicting and analyzing tropical mesoscale convective systems remain mostly fallow. Since tropical mesoscale convective systems play a crucial role in regional and global weather, this deficit should be addressed. This study is the first of its kind to examine the potential impacts of assimilating all-sky upper tropospheric infrared radiance observations on the prediction of a tropical squall line. Even though these all-sky infrared radiance observations are not directly affected by lower-tropospheric winds, the high-frequency assimilation of these all-sky infrared radiance observations improved the analyses of the tropical squall line’s outflow position. Aside from that, the assimilation of all-sky infrared radiance observations improved the analyses and prediction of the squall line’s cloud field. Finally, reducing the frequency of assimilating these all-sky infrared radiance observations weakened these improvements to the analyzed outflow position, as well as the analyses and predictions of cloud fields.