Calibration/Validation of the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) for Remote Sensing, Numerical Weather Prediction, and Climate Change Applications

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) sensors on the S-NPP and JPSS satellites measure upwelling infrared radiance at high spectral resolution that is used for various applications including atmospheric profiling, trace gas retrievals, numerical weather prediction, and climate process and trend studies. Due to its high spectral and radiometric accuracy, calibration traceability, and well characterized measurement uncertainty, it also serves as a reference sensor for other satellite sensors within the Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System (GSICS). This presentation will review the CrIS measurement concept, pre-launch and post-launch calibration methodologies, and post-launch validation approaches and results. This includes characterization of the on-board calibration blackbodies, nonlinearity characterization, polarization sensitivity, and other important aspects of the calibration, and validation methodologies including intercomparisons with calculated spectra and other sensors. The presentation will also include results of the Climate Hyperspectral Infrared Radiance Product (CHIRP) which combines measurements from the NASA Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and CrIS for longer term studies of climate relevant forces and feedbacks.