Assimilation of SSM/I and GOES humidity retrievals with a one-dimensional variational analysis scheme

A one-dimensional variational analysis technique is used to assimilate the total precipitable water (TPW) retrieved from Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) brightness temperature and specific humidity retrieved from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) radiances. It is seen that the error reduction of specific humidity in the upper levels of the troposphere is due to the GOES retrievals, while in the lower levels it is due to SSM/I TPW.