Validation of SAGE III-ISS Ozone with NOAA OMPS and Ground-Based Instruments

Satellite limb measurements of ozone profiles have been made for decades with the SAGE I (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiments) (1979-1981), SAGE II (1984-2005) and SAGE III Meteor-3M (2002-2005). These vertically resolved measurements have been the backbone of several merged ozone profile data records which extend the ozone record beyond the 2005 SAGE termination as discussed in SPARC/LOTUS [2018] report. The recent addition of SAGE III on ISS provides an opportunity to continue the merged datasets and accompanying trend studies. Validation of this latest SAGE family instrument is paramount to the success of merging it with its predecessors. This effort will characterize the compatibility of SAGE III ISS with SAGE II using SBUV/2 and OMPS and available ground-based instruments as transfer standards. SBUV/2 measurements are available from the NOAA Polar Orbiters from 1978 to present, measuring nearly globally with 15 orbits per day. The OMPS Nadir Profiler (NP) on Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20 provide a follow on to SBUV with similar measurement traits. The vertical resolution of the SBUV/OMPS is smoothed as compared to the SAGE Limb, but abundant coverage of the NOAA satellites provides good opportunity for frequent comparisons. NOAA’s ground-based instruments (GB) include vertical distribution of ozone from Dobson Umkehr and ozonesonde profiling with a long record. Microwave and lidar datasets from NDACC additionally provide opportunities to study the compatibility of the SAGE III instruments. Microwave specifically allows the exploration of the diurnal properties of SAGE as seen with sunrise/sunset sampling. The focus of this study will be on trend compatibility, and compatibility for inclusion in merged datasets such as the NOAA SWOOSH [Davis, 2016].

Davis, et al. (2016), The Stratospheric Water and Ozone Satellite Homogenized (SWOOSH) database: a long-term database for climate studies, Earth Syst Sci Data, 8(2), 461-490, doi: 10.5194/essd-8-461-2016.

SPARC/IOC/GAW (2018): SPARC/IOC/GAW report on Long-term Ozone Trends and Uncertainties in the Stratosphere. SPARC Report No. 9, WCRP-17/2018, GAW Report No. 241, doi: 10.17874/f899e57a20b.