Evaluation and Assimilation of FY-3C/D MWHS-2 Radiances in the RMAPS-ST

Currently, humidity information can be obtained from the Microwave Humidity Sounder-2 (MWHS-2) mounted on the polar-orbiting satellites FY-3C and FY-3D. However, making full use of the MWHS-2 data remains a challenge, particularly in the application of regional numerical weather models. This study is the first to include MWHS-2 radiance data in the Rapid-refresh Multi-scale Analysis and Prediction System—Short-term (RMAPS-ST) regional model. The results and impact of MWHS-2 radiance data assimilation were investigated and evaluated. It is found that MWHS-2 radiance data can be effectively assimilated in the RMAPS-ST after a series of quality control and variational bias correction. Benefits could be obtained in the reduction of background departures for each humidity sounding channel. Assimilation experiments over a period of one month were carried out, and the impacts of MWHS-2 radiances were quantitatively analyzed on the forecasts of RMAPS-ST system. The results showed that MWHS-2 saw a small but significant improvement for low-level humidity of short-range forecast, by 16.5% and 3.2% in terms of mean bias and root-mean-square error, respectively. The positive impact on short-range forecast also can be found for middle and low level temperature and wind. For quantitative precipitation forecast, the assimilation of MWHS-2 radiances increased the score skills of different rainfall levels in the first 12 h forecast by an average of 1.4%. There was a slight overall improvement in the 24-h precipitation forecast for over-estimation and false alarm of 3-h accumulated rainfall below 1.0 mm, with 0.75% and 0.36%, respectively. The addition of MWHS-2 radiance data gives a small positive impact on low-level humidity, temperature, and wind in the RMAPS-ST regional model, and it also improves short-range forecast of rainfall, particularly in the first 12 h of the forecast