The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NOAA/NESDIS) produces global temperature and moisture sounding products from operational polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites. Within the NESDIS Office of SaTellite Applications and Research (STAR), the NOAA PROducts Validation System (NPROVS) has provided a centralized, integrated real-time monitoring and validation function for inter-comparing derived satellite weather products against collocated radiosonde, dropsonde and numerical weather prediction (NWP) forecast data since April, 2008. The satellite product suites compared include Advanced-TOVS (ATOVS), Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Microwave integrated Retrieval System (MiRS), GOES, Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) from NOAA and EUMETSAT and Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) Global Positioning System Radio Occultation (GPSRO) soundings from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).

The following report presents latest results comparing ATOVS, MIRS, GOES, IASI, AIRS and COSMIC atmospheric sounding products against collocated radiosonde, dropsonde and various NWP data as routinely compiled by NPROVS. Results show overall characteristic performance tendencies for each system using the Environmental Data and Graphics Evaluation (EDGE) graphical interface and highlight expansions and upgrades developed and deployed during 2011, for example, against (and among) NOAA Global Forecast System (GFS) and Climate Forecast System Re-analysis (CFSR) data using variable pressure levels, layers and moisture weighting schemes. Results progress from a detailed analysis over selected weekly periods to more generalized seasonal and annual trend summaries over the NPROVS period of record (April 2008 to present). Special case study results from experimental research observations integrated into NPROVS during 2011, including AERosols and Ocean Science Expeditions (AEROSE), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observations (CIMO) South China Radiosonde Inter-comparison 2010 and the joint French-United States CONCORDIASI Antarctic research experiment are highlighted.

The above work is supported by the NOAA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) in conjunction with CrIS/ATMS Cal/Val team activities in preparation for NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) products in October 2011. NPROVS is a pivotal component of the JPSS Cal/Val program for Cross-track Infrared/Microwave Sounding Suite (CrIMSS) Environmental Data Records (EDR) weather products validation. NPROVS integration of multiple NPP sounding products planned in conjunction with NPP and adherence to program accuracy specifications are outlined with results presented as available. The report concludes with plans to utilize emerging observations from Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN) sites and some preliminary thoughts on computing a “site atmospheric state best estimate” for routine EDR validation at the time of NPP overpass.

The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect any position of the United States government or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.