Expanding existing observations of the pre-storm environment using a time series of high-spectral resolution infrared sounder retrievals

Advanced infrared sounding instruments onboard polar-orbiting satellites, such as AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder), IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) and CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder), provide radiance measurements of high-spectral resolution to enable accurate determination of atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, as well as trace gas, surface and cloud parameters. A single atmospheric profile retrieval algorithm is used to achieve temporal and spatial consistency and continuity among the different instruments on different platforms. We show how a time sequence of retrievals derived from all four operational sounders in consecutive orbits is used to describe the pre-convective environment of severe local convective storms. The quantitative and independent information, which is available in real-time at single field-of-view resolution, can be used in complement with traditional sources (e.g. broad-band imagery, radiosonde observations, model forecast and analysis) to provide a more complete picture of the storm structure, intensity changes and its environmental conditions. We anticipate that an increased usage of hyperspectral sounding products from multiple satellites will glean better understanding of the evolution and dynamics of severe local storms to the benefit of any weather monitoring and prediction operation.