NOAA/NESDIS provides routine products distribution of operational temperature and moisture sounding products to national and international users in support of global and regional numerical weather prediction and climate research applications. These products are derived from the NOAA-15 and NOAA-16 polar orbiting satellites, which provide up to four (4) measurements daily, six (6)hours apart, over most regions of the earth.

During May, 2001, the migration of the operational configuration of radiometers used to generate these products from the old TOVS, featuring the High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS/3), Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU), and Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU)radiometers, to Advanced-TOVS, featuring the 20-channel Advanced Microwave Sounding Units (AMSU) A and B modules in place of the (4 channel) MSU and (3-channel) SSU, was complete. This marked the onset of the two satellite configuration of ATOVS expected to continue through 2010. The improved consistency and information content in the context of numerical weather prediction and climate applications of the two satellite ATOVS configuration of radiometer measurements and derived products are illustrated, including scientific algorithms, products accuracy and real time weather case studies.

Future plans concerning operational sounding products from ATOVS, including enhanced moisture products using combined AMSU-A, AMSU-B and HIRS/3 moisture data, cloud products, upper stratospheric temperature, and applications for merging polar orbiter and geostationary (GOES)sounding products conclude this report.