Infrared hyperspectral sounding instruments with broad spectral coverage have the potential to provide unprecedented atmospheric profiling, surface characterization, cloud property and trace gas information. Such instruments are planned to be deployed on satellites in both polar orbit (for global coverage) and geostationary orbit (for regional high temporal resolution coverage). Making best use of the improved measurement capabilities of, and the investment in, instruments such as CrIS, GIFTS, and HES demands efficient modeling and processing algorithms capable of generating data products for weather forecasting and other time critical applications with minimal time latency.

This paper reviews the complete measurement and processing cycle from NWP modeling of the atmosphere through the simulation of top-of-atmosphere radiances to the processing of those radiances to retrieve atmospheric clear and cloudy sounding profiles. Demonstration of GIFTS and HES modeling and processing systems will illustrate the trend of future infrared sounding from space and its impact on the global earth observing strategy.