The impact of assimilating COSMIC-2 observations of electron density in WACCMX
The present study investigates the impact of assimilating electron density profiles from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate-2 (COSMIC-2) mission in a whole atmosphere data assimilation system. The observations are assimilated into the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere-ionosphere eXtension (WACCMX) using the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) ensemble adjustment Kalman filter. Assimilation of the COSMIC-2 electron density profiles during the evaluation time period of 25–30 April 2020 leads to improvement in both the 1 hr forecast and analysis electron densities in WACCMX + DART. Compared to a control experiment that does not assimilate COSMIC-2 observations, the assimilation of the COSMIC-2 electron density profiles reduces the 1 hr forecast root mean square error (RMSE) and bias with respect to COSMIC-2 observations at 300 km by 6.76% and 24.91%, respectively. Assimilation of the COSMIC-2 electron density profiles does not significantly influence the RMSE and bias with respect to ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System vertical total electron content observations. The equatorial vertical plasma drift velocity in WACCMX + DART is changed by ±5–10 ms−1 due to the assimilation of the COSMIC-2 electron density profiles, indicating that the model representation of the electrodynamics of the low latitude ionosphere are significantly impacted by the assimilation of COSMIC-2 observations.
document
https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d70c50b9
eng
geoscientificInformation
Text
publication
2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
publication
2022-01-01T00:00:00Z
Copyright 2022 American Geophysical Union.
None
OpenSky Support
UCAR/NCAR - Library
PO Box 3000
Boulder
80307-3000
name: homepage
pointOfContact
OpenSky Support
UCAR/NCAR - Library
PO Box 3000
Boulder
80307-3000
name: homepage
pointOfContact
2025-07-11T16:08:05.095578