Initialization of WRF Model Simulations With Sentinel-1 Wind Speed for Severe Weather Events

The model initialization with high-resolution SAR wind data provided by the Sentinel-1 mission and its impact on meteorological WRF-ARW simulations is discussed. activity performed within Horizon 2020 CEASELESS project, focusing one of target areas, northern Adriatic Sea (northern-central Mediterranean). ingested into LAPS, a numerical system developed at NOAA, specifically designed for analysis nowcasting issues, since it has advantage being faster less computational demanding than advanced assimilation methods. Here, LAPS analyses are used to perform smarter using simply global fields. evaluated twenty cases, ranging through several atmospheric conditions occurring in different seasons years 2014–2018. For each case study, reference simulation forced GFS forecasts as initial boundary conditions, respectively. Additional runs initialized analyses, which include information wind, METAR SEVIRI/MSG (Eumetsat) brightness temperature. A statistical evaluation versus an independent set surface records, Friuli Venezia Giulia regional station network (northeastern Italy), data. comparison 10 m 2 air dew point results show positive, albeit modest, WRF analyses. benefits all variables. Finally, Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone (Medicane), occurred Ionian November 2017, considered order how use Sentinel can contribute better severe weather episodes Mediterranean. improvement pressure minimum location remarkable.