The upper tropospheric storm-scale signatures from hyperspectral infrared soundings

The atmospheric sounding retrieval methods from satellite infrared (IR) radiance measurements have been developed over decades. The sounding retrieval accuracy is much improved with the hyperspectral IR radiances compared with to those from the broadband IR radiances, and to be indispensable in achieving the 1K/1km and 10%/1km requirements for tropospheric temperature and humidity, respectively. The retrieval accuracy is better in the upper troposphere lower stratosphere (UTLS) than the atmospheric boundary layer, which provides an opportunity to explore the UTLS structure. We employ both clear and cloudy skies sounding retrievals from satellite-based hypersprctral IR radiance measurements to investigate the UTLS stability in associated with storm-scale weather phenomenon. The case study shows the atmospheric thermodynamic stability (e.g., Lifted Index) may be flawed in certain circumstance, while a relative low UTLS stability in terms of the buoyancy frequency is found in the storm vicinity. The paper demonstrates the advantage of using the clear and cloudy hyperspectral IR sounding retrievals for supporting the short-term forecasting or nowcasting.