Science Benefits of Proposed Sensor Improvements for Future Joint Polar Satellite System Missions

The purpose of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program is to provide next generation polar-orbiting satellites that will aid in advancing weather, climate, environmental, and oceanographic science. The first mission of the JPSS program, the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite, was launched in October 2011 and carries five instruments including the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS), and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The satellites that follow will have similar instruments, starting with JPSS-1 launching in early 2017. Analysis of S-NPP data has allowed us to identify areas of potential improvement for these future missions to ensure that the JPSS Program continues to produce the highest quality data possible. NOAA is pursuing six potential sensor improvements for future JPSS missions that would promote technical advancements including but not limited to higher resolution data, greater spectral range, and larger spatial coverage. Before implementation, the program must weigh the costs and benefits of such sensor changes and determine how they will affect the user community. Presented here are all of the proposed sensor improvements and their potential benefits to the scientific community and data continuity.