Validation of Improved GOES-based Surface Insolation and Cloud Properties and its Impact on Cloud Assimilation

Currently, the Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in collaboration with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) generates and archive several products derived from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). These products include cloud top temperature, cloud albedo, surface albedo and surface insolation for use in meteorological and air quality models.  Over the years, these products have been evaluated and used in many retrospective air quality studies. However, due to improvements in retrieval algorithm and changes in satellites the archives lack the consistency that the air quality community expects.

In this study, we first evaluated insolation products against surface pyranometer observations for selected periods of 2006, 2012, and 2013 to identify and address some of the systemic problems. Lack of a robust technique to account for satellite sensor degradation and the use of constant precipitable water were identified as major problems. By addressing these issues and incorporating the latest improvements in the retrieval algorithm, the data was reprocessed and evaluated. Additionally, an algorithm for estimating photosysnthetically active radiation (PAR) was developed and PAR was generated/evaluated and added to the suite of products to be archived. The new retrievals were used in air quality simulations using WRF/SMOKE/CMAQ modeling system for selected periods of 2012 and 2013. For these simulations GOES-derived cloud products were assimilated in WRF and GOES-based PAR was used in biogenic emission estimates. The preliminary results from these simulations, as well as evaluation of the new products will be presented.