Encouraging the use of hyperspectral sounder products in forecasting applications

With four operational hyperspectral sounders in polar orbit at present (two on the AM orbit and two on the PM orbit), and a fast multi-instrument retrieval algorithm, it is possible to put together a succession of surface, cloud and vertical atmospheric information. In this paper we explore how this rich new information source can be made more available and useful to forecasters. We are demonstrating this for the Alaskan region where the forecasters rely strongly on polar-orbiting satellite observations and overpasses are frequent enough to provide sufficient temporal and spatial coverage. This allows the study of parameters indispensible to reliable forecasts like atmospheric profile tendencies, moisture transport, as well as cloud top and stability changes related to convective environments. Communication with the Alaskan research and forecasting community is established to determine which products as well as what type of display and analysis tools are most useful. To accomplish that the retrieval products from all sounders, as well as the time differences between consecutive overpasses, are prepared for near real-time viewing and analysis through the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS). With these products, software and training the complementary use of sounder data and traditional data (e.g. broad-band imagery) can be now explored by the forecasters. It is anticipated that this new information, once it is used operationally in forecasting offices, will help to maintain and improve forecasting in the next decades.