Evaluation of CrIS/ATMS Proxy Data Generation Algorithms with Observed Radiances and Retrieval Products

Proxy data generation algorithms utilize currently available Sensor Data Records (SDRs) from existing satellite instrument suites to generate proxy SDRs for future satellite instruments. During the pre-launch phase of a new satellite mission, the proxy SDRs are used to develop and test algorithms to produce many radiance products, to select channels for the physical retrieval algorithms that produce many geophysical products (referred to as Environmental Data Records, EDRs), and to define and test channel sub-sets for Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model assimilations. During the post-launch phase, the EDR algorithms developed with pre-launch proxy SDRs are optimized with post-launch instrument parameters in transitioning research to operations. Thus, evaluating the SDRs and EDRs generated from the proxy data sets with the SDRs and EDRs generated with the real satellite observations helps to understand the limitations of the proxy data algorithms and to suggest improvements for future utility. This paper presents an evaluation of the Cross Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) proxy SDR/EDR products with the observed SDRs, and EDR products produced using the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) Cross-Track Infrared Microwave Sounder Suite (CrIMSS) algorithm. The NPP-CrIS/ATMS observed SDRs for the focus day May 15, 2012 are used to produce CrIMSS EDR products. Proxy CrIS/ATMS SDRs are also generated for the focus day using proxy data algorithms that utilize the Meteorological Operational satellite programme (MetOp) Infrared Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer (IASI), the Advance Microwave sounding Unit (AMSU) and the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) observations. Simultaneous Nadir Overpass (SNO) matches acquired for real NPP-CrIS/ATMS SDRs and the MetOp-IASI/AMSU-A/MHS based proxy CrIS/SDRs are used with the CrIMSS EDR algorithm to produce atmospheric vertical temperature and moisture profiles (AVTP, AVMP), and many other ancillary EDRs. Root Mean Squared (RMS) differences between NPP-CrIS/ATMS SDRs and corresponding proxy SDRs are generated to assess the performance of proxy data generation algorithms. The AVTP and AVMP EDR products generated with both the NPP-CrIS/ATMS SDRs and the proxy CrIS/ATMS SDRs are then evaluated with matched European Center for Medium Range Forecast (ECMWF) analysis fields. Preliminary results indicate that the proxy data generation algorithms developed and utilized during pre-launch have performed as expected. We are currently working on a detailed evaluation and hope to present an extensive review of results in the conference.