Single FOV Sounding Retrieval in Cloudy Atmospheres Using Hyperspectral Infrared Measurements

To prepare for the synergistic use of data from high-temporal resolution instruments on GOES-R and hyperspectral sounders on polar-orbiting satellites a retrieval algorithm has been developed to obtain accurate sounding profiles under all weather conditions, surface and cloud parameters, as well as derived products (e.g. atmospheric stability indices) at single FOV (field of view) resolution. The algorithm is applied to AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) and IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) radiances, and the results as well as validation with analysis fields, operational products and radiosonde observations are presented. The paper demonstrates that information from hyperspectral measurements is essential to detect fine vertical variations, especially of moisture, to support NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction), short-term weather forecasts and other environmental applications. The experience in developing data processing and retrieval algorithms gained from this study will be used for future instrumentation, in particular for CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder) on NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System).