NWP SAF has released a new technical report assessing the radiance data quality from the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) microwave radiometer. The study evaluates AWS observations from an NWP perspective, using independent monitoring at the Met Office and DWD with RTTOV-simulated equivalents. Results show stable radiance behaviour, well-characterised scan-angle biases, and instrument noise levels suitable for operational data assimilation. The new 325 GHz sub-millimetre channels demonstrate strong sensitivity to ice cloud scattering, offering promising capabilities for all-sky assimilation. Data availability and timeliness via EUMETCast are shown to be excellent, meeting global NWP requirements. An initial assimilation trial at the Met Office indicates a statistically significant positive forecast impact. Overall, the results confirm AWS radiances as high-quality, operationally valuable observations and a strong precursor to future EPS‑Sterna missions.
The full report is available from the Publications page: https://nwp-saf.eumetsat.int/site/cdop4-reports-publications/#Technical_Reports