An overview of algorithm development status for the Suomi NPP Environmental Data Records

In this overview we provide an update on the status of algorithms used to generate Environmental Data Records (EDRs) from measurements from sensors on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. Following the SNPP launch in October 2011, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) EDR Algorithm and Validation teams performed comprehensive product evaluation activities using on-orbit data during the Early Orbit Checkout and Intensive Calibration and Validation periods. The evaluation and product development work resulted in initial stabilizing of the EDRs towards achieving Beta maturity status, starting with the fundamental upstream products. Incremental and more substantial algorithm changes also are implemented, depending on the performance of the initial algorithms executed by the Interface Data Processing Segment (IDPS). This science overview focuses on retrieval strategies, improvements already implemented, and further proposed changes to serve both real-time applications and long-term monitoring from the SNPP and subsequent JPSS satellites.