Testing and Tuning CrIMSS EDR Algorithm with Proxy Data in Preparation for NPP Post-launch EDR Product Validation

The Cross-track Infrared and Microwave Sounder Suite(CrIMSS) will be flying on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory project (NPP) satellite. It is designed to produce three Environmental Data Records (EDR) products, i.e., the Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Profiles (AVTP), Atmospheric Vertical Moisture Profiles (AVMP) and atmospheric Pressure Profiles. In this paper, we present results from pre-launch testing and tuning of the CrIMSS EDR algorithm using high quality proxy data generated from real operational satellite data. A complete assessment of the retrieval algorithm and EDR quality has been conducted using the collocated NWP model data, including the characterization of radiance calibration errors, tuning of Radiative Transfer Models (RTM) bias errors, tuning of algorithm processing coefficients and Look-Up-Tables (LUT), and fixing of algorithm software errors. Potential algorithm improvement opportunities have been identified, and important lessons have been learned that will directly benefit the post-launch CrIMSS EDR product validation.