Pathfinder Geometric Reprocessing of GOES-8 to -12 Products to Improve Derived Motion Winds for the Fundamental Climate Data Record

A fundamental satellite Climate Data Record (CDR) aims for a consistent and accurate observational record of weather and climate derived from the various sensors flown during the satellite era. NOAA’s geostationary satellites contribute to this record, but prior to 2006, when GOES-13 was launched, the Image Navigation and Registration (INR) of such systems was lacking. This adversely affects the quality of Derived Motions Winds (DMWs) from this era. In addition to radiometric correction for a CDR, we propose geometric correction to bring the data from older systems up to modern standards. Our paper reports on a pathfinder demonstration of an approach to correcting the INR for the GOES-8 to -12 satellites. GOES-8 to -12 were NOAA’s first three-axis stabilized satellites in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series. Its attitude control system allowed slow and quasi-random image motion that degrades DMW quality. We use precisely registered image templates from Landsat to measure residual INR error and a Kalman Filter-Smoother to model that error. The original products are then remapped to both correct them and to present them in the same form as the present GOES-R Radiance and Cloud and Moisture Imagery products. When applied to all NOAA’s geostationary satellites, a consistent long-term record can be created to represent winds and brightness temperatures seamlessly and accurately in the satellite era. Our study attempts to quantify both the benefit and effort needed to create such a CDR.