Polar-GOES-GPSRO multi-platform satellite product inter-comparisons using the NOAA products validation system

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NOAA/NESDIS) produces global temperature and moisture sounding products from operational polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites. Within the NESDIS Office of SaTellite Applications and Research (STAR), the NOAA PROducts Validation System (NPROVS) now provides a centralized, integrated real-time monitoring and validation function for inter-comparing these products against collocated radiosonde and numerical weather prediction (NWP) forecast data. The satellite product suites compared include Advanced-TOVS (ATOVS), Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Microwave Integrated retrieval System (MIRS), GOES, Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) Global Positioning System Radio Occultation (GPSRO) derived sounding products. A special dataset of collocated satellite and ground truth observations anchored to available GPSRO observation since 2001 is also under construction.

The following report presents results comparing ATOVS, MIRS, GOES, IASI, AIRS and COSMIC atmospheric sounding products using collocated radiosonde, NWP and respective satellite product observations routinely compiled by NPROVS. Special aspects of these results are presented, including impacts due to satellite and radiosonde quality control, spatial and temporal windows, clouds, terrain and respective retrieval approaches. Results include relatively short term (weekly) vertical statistics and longer term (monthly, seasonal and annual) trend analysis including as available from the 10-yr dataset of collocations anchored to GPSRO. Special case observations and respective product performance, for example, profiles containing temperature inversions and/or complex vertical moisture structures are also presented. Results from experimental research observations integrated into NPROVS, including AEROSE, CIMO Inter-comparison China 2010 and Raman water vapor lidar from selected GCOS Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN) sites are included as available.

The above work is supported by the NOAA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) in conjunction with CrIS/ATMS Cal/Val team activities in preparation for NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) products in 2011. Results from NPROVS integration into the ongoing JPSS Cal/Val program and associated Government Resources for Algorithm Verification Independent Testing and Evaluation (GRAVITE) Transfer Protocol Client (GTP) in support of next generation Crosstrack Infrared Sounder (CrIS) /Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) conclude this report.

The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect any position of the United States government or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.