Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) validation program for the Cross-track Infrared Microwave Sounding Suite (CrIMSS)

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) (formerly the NPOESS PM orbit) is a U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mission in collaboration with joint international partnerships and the U.S. National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA). The primary mission of the JPSS program is to provide environmental data records (EDRs) to NOAA's operational customers. The transition to JPSS will not impact the Calibration/Validation (Cal/Val) plan, which is to ensure the data products comply with the requirements of the sponsoring agencies. The NPP satellite, a risk reduction and data continuity mission, is still planned for launch prior to the first operational JPSS launch. This presentation focuses on the Cal/Val activities for the NPP and JPSS Cross-track Infrared Microwave Sounding Suite (CrIMSS), a sounding system consisting of the infrared (IR) Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the microwave (MW) Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS). CrIMSS is to provide sensor data records (SDR) leading to the generation of three EDRs, namely the atmospheric vertical temperature, moisture and pressure profiles (AVTP, AVMP and AVPP, respectively), with the AVTP and the AVMP being JPSS Key Performance Parameters (KPPs). The validation plans establish science and user community leadership and participation, and demonstrated, cost-effective Cal/Val approaches. This presentation will provide an overview of the current activities and schedule for the near- and far-term validation of the NPP and JPSS CrIMSS environmental data products.