What is Data Assimilation?
Data assimilation (DA) is the science that fuses observations with numerical model outputs to obtain an analysis that best estimates the status of the Earth system as it evolves over time.
DA is trans-disciplinary in nature, requiring an understanding of mathematical algorithms, physical processes, observations, modeling, high performance computing, and data science (Wang, X. 2022).
Why is Data Assimilation important?
Data assimilation plays a critical role in weather and climate prediction, including
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- Providing starting points for daily forecasts
- Providing valuable datasets (reanalysis) for climate studies and AI/ML studies
- Optimizing observation network design
- Correcting/keeping numerical models on track
- Understanding Earth system predictability and dynamics
What are the challenges for Data Assimilation?
Data assimilation is facing significant challenges associated with the future landscape of high-resolution, multiscale, coupled earth system modeling, and the large amount of diverse and complex observations (Wang, X. 2022).
World-wide data assimilation workforce gap is identified in the US Congressionally-mandated Priorities for Weather Research (PWR) report (2021) and in the Transatlantic Data Science Academy (TDSA) phase 1 report (Dance et al. 2024)
Sustained support of innovative data assimilation research is lacking.
How will CADRE address these challenges?
CADRE is a comprehensive, collaborative, integrated research, education and R2O2R (Research to Operations to Research) program that aims to
(1) Increase the number of graduate students and postdocs formally trained in DA with NOAA UFS (Unified Forecast System) and JEDI (Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration) DA system work experience
(2) Enhance the national and international DA workforce pipeline development through training and outreach that embraces diversity and inclusion
(3) Seek solutions through JEDI to challenging DA issues in the UFS short range (RRFS, HAFS), medium range (GFS) and sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) predictions
(4) Promote intellectual and technical exchanges in R2O and O2R
News:
CADRE announces public DA training opportunity (12/31/24)
Short Film Introducing CADRE at 2024 AGU annual meeting (12/9/24)
NOAA Announces establishment of CADRE (5/21/24)
External Links:
NOAA Unified Forecast System (UFS)
Transatlantic Data Science Academy (TDSA)
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