NPOESS soil moisture satellite data assimilation: Progress using WindSat data

In this work, we have developed a four-dimensional coupled atmospheric/land data assimilation framework using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling Data Assimilation System (RAMDAS) to retrieve deep soil moisture profiles. Passive microwave data from CORIOLIS WindSat are used as a surrogate for future National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) microwave sensors. Current efforts are focused on the use of the system for a case study occurring in September 2003.