The NOAA Operational Hyper Spectral IR+MW Retrieval Algorithm: algorithm description and current performance assessment

Since February 2013, NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO has been running three hyper spectral sounding product processing systems: 1) the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AIRS/AMSU) retrieval product processing system; 2) the Infrared Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer/ Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit/Microwave Humidity Sounder (IASI/AMSU/MHS) NOAA unique cloud-cleared radiances and trace gas product processing system, which has been running operationally since 2008 (MetOp A) and 2014 (MetOp B); and 3) the NOAA Unique Cross-track Infrared Sounder/ Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (CrIS/ATMS) processing system (NUCAPS), which has become operational in the Fall of 2013. The long term strategy of NOAA/NESDIS will also involve the operational processing of the future JPSS and MetOp C missions, spanning a total period of ~30 years of hyper spectral remote sounding data processing. Scope of this talk is a general overview of the NOAA operational hyper spectral IR+MW algorithm with a focus on the ongoing development activity aimed towards building a climate quality data record of environmental variables. We also present a cross-comparison among the AIRS/AMSU, IASI/AMSU/MHS and CrIS/ATMS retrieval data records. We perform a detailed analysis of the information content and statistical performance of the three retrieval systems in order to assess their level of maturity and inter-consistency.