The objective of this research is to evaluate the potential for CubeSats and other small satellite constellations to mitigate a potential data gap and/or improve numerical weather forecasts. This is conducted as a collaborative project involving NOAA AOML and NESDIS/STAR, CIMSS, and the University of MD. To this end, a series of Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) is being conducted. These experiments utilize both global and regional OSSE systems. Specific instruments being evaluated include the CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS), the Micro-sized Microwave Atmospheric Sounder-2 (MicroMAS-2), the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), and the Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission. The diverse set of OSSEs that have been performed to date show potential for each of these systems to mitigate a data gap and to contribute to improved prediction and begin to quantify their relative impacts.

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Robert M. Atlas, Sid Boukabara, and Jun Li, "Observing system simulation experiments to assess the potential impact of CubeSats and other small satellite constellations on numerical weather prediction (Conference Presentation)," Proc. SPIE 10769, CubeSats and NanoSats for Remote Sensing II, 1076909 (Presented at SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications: August 21, 2018; Published: 18 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2319861.5836565255001.