Data Assimilation & Modeling

Data assimilation and modeling work at AER is meant to contribute to the overall improvement of weather prediction and to our understanding of atmospheric chemistry processes through improved models and better use of data, especially remotely sensed data. We have experience in a wide range of projects, from basic research to development of real-time information services. We can provide on-site, customized consulting services for a customer's particular atmospheric modeling needs. AER’s data assimilation and prediction clients include both private and public entities, foreign and domestic. The data assimilation and prediction group also supports the numerical modeling requirements of AER's Commercial, Science Applications, and Air Quality Divisions. Our staff all hold advanced degrees and are skilled in a broad range of computer programming, software engineering, and project management disciplines.

Past and Present Projects

• SeaWind Scatterometer - We are long standing members of the NASA scatterometer teams, currently named the Ocean Vector Wind Science Team (OVWST)
  
• Global Weather Control - AER conducted futuristic numerical assessments of the possibility of controlling weather systems
  
• MM5 4d-VAR - We played a key role in the development of a 4d-VAR application for distributed memory computer architectures
  
• Microwave Profiler Data Assimilation - We used variational methods to assimilate ground-based microwave profiler data into a mesoscale model
  
• Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model - AER assisted the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) in the development of a unified 3d-VAR and 4d-VAR architecture, and are also involved in the transition to and the optimization of WRF for AFRL operational uses
  
• Homeland Defense - Characterized mesoscale weather prediction errors for dispersion modeling in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
  
• 2004 Athens Olympic Games - AER developed and installed a weather nowcasting system for the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS)
  
• Supported advanced data assimilation for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) High Energy Laser (HEL) program
  
• On-site NWP services-MIT/Haystack Observatory, Turkish State Meteorological Service, Hellenic National Meteorological Service

  Chemistry
  

• Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (SPARC) - AER is responsible for assessment of stratospheric aerosol properties
  
• NASA Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) - We developed aerosol models for 3-D chemistry and transport models
  
• NASA Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling and Analysis Program (ACMAP) - AER is involved in issues related to chemistry data assimilation
  

Customers/Colleagues

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  
• Air Force Weather Agency
  
• Air Force Research Laboratory
  
• Defense Threat Reduction Agency
  
• US Army
  
• Turkish State Meteorological Service
  
• Hellenic National Meteorological Service
  
• Radiometrics, Inc.
  
• Systems Technology, Inc.
  
• National Center for Atmospheric Research
  
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Harvard University
  

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