CrIS/ATMS Sounding Data Products and Services at NOAA/NESDIS

With the launch of the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite on 28 October 2011, high spectral resolution infrared sounding has made significant improvements in retrievals from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instruments on board S-NPP. In a series of advanced operational sounders CrIS in conjunction with ATMS provides more accurate, detailed atmospheric temperature and moisture observations for weather and climate applications. Higher (spatial, temporal and spectral) resolution and more accurate sounding data from CrIS and ATMS support continuing advances in data assimilation systems and NWP models to improve short- to medium-range weather forecasts. To process the CrIS/ATMS data the NOAA Unique CrIS/ATMS Product System (NUCAPS) was developed at the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR), which was integrated into the Data Handling System (DHS) by the NOAA Data Exploitation (NDE) system team, and then delivered to the Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) for operation. In an effort to ensure consistent levels of service and quality assurance for NUCAPS data products, the OSPO has implemented and executing new, innovative tools to better monitor performance and quality of the operational sounder and imager products that are being generated. The incorporation of these tools in both STAR and the OSPO will facilitate the joint diagnosis and resolution of problems when detected in the operational environment. This presentation will include several of these tools developed and deployed for the sounding products monitoring and data quality assurance which lead to improve the maintenance and sustainment of the Environmental Satellites Processing Center (ESPC) processing systems. The presentation will include the discussion on the ESPC system architecture involving sounding data processing and distribution for CrIS, IASI, ATOVS, and GOES sounding products. Discussion will also include the improvements made for data quality measurements, granule processing and distribution, and user timeliness requirements envisioned from the next generation of JPSS and GOES-R satellites. There have been significant changes in the operational system due to system upgrades, algorithm updates, and value added data products and services.