Characterization of the NOAA Unique CrIS/ATMS Processing System (NUCAPS) sounding products within extreme moisture environments

The NOAA Unique CrIS/ATMS processing System (NUCAPS) is the operational retrieval system for sounding products from the Suomi National-Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP). The algorithm was originally developed by the NASA Sounding Team for sounding products from the Aqua satellite. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) center for Satellite Application and Research (STAR) ported this algorithm for operational use with the EUMETSAT Metop-A/B and, more recently, the Suomi-NPP. In the Suomi-NPP application, the NUCAPS system produces cloud-cleared radiances from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) field-of-regard that is co-located with the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS). Numerous environmental data products (EDR) are derived from the cloud cleared radiances including cloud and surface products, profiles of atmospheric temperature, moisture, ozone and other trace gases. NOAA/NESDIS/STAR has demonstrated the robust operation of this algorithm and validated the EDR products.

In February 2014 we provided near real-time NUCAPS retrievals as guidance for flight planning in the CalWater 2 Early Start field campaign taking place in the eastern Pacific. This field campaign measured and characterized atmospheric rivers (ARs). In this presentation we will show comparisons of NUCAPS retrieval products with in-situ dropsondes from this field campaign and discuss the ability of NUCAPS to provide soundings in the extreme moisture environment of ARs.

NUCAPS is available from NOAA's Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS) and also in real-time from the Community Satellite Processing Package (CCSP). CSPP supports the Direct Broadcast (DB) meteorological and environmental satellite community through the packaging, and distribution of open source science software in over 60 countries. CSPP also supports training in local product applications. We will discuss the use of the CSPP-NUCAPS system for the CalWater-2 campaign that is scheduled to take place in January through February, 2015.