NOAA's Microwave Integrated Retrieval System (MiRS): Recent Activity, Science Improvements, and First Look at JPSS-1/ATMS Results

The Microwave Integrated Retrieval System (MiRS) is the NOAA official microwave-only operational retrieval algorithm, and has been running operationally at NOAA since 2008. Currently, passive microwave data from a total of 8 different satellites are processed operationally; SNPP/ATMS data have been routinely processed since shortly after launch in late 2011. The algorithm is based in a 1-dimensional variational approach in which all relevant elements of the atmospheric and surface state are retrieved simultaneously, using the CRTM radiative transfer model for both the forward simulation and the estimation of derivatives (Jacobians). The official retrieval products from MiRS include temperature and water vapor profiles, surface temperature and emissivity, liquid and frozen hydrometeors, precipitation rate, as well as cryospheric products such as sea ice concentration and snow water equivalent.

The presentation will focus on three areas: (1) results from recent SNPP/ATMS validation activities including atmospheric temperature and water vapor, land surface temperature and surface emissivity, (2) preliminary results from science improvement activities such as a new air mass bias correction formulation, and applications to tropical cyclone environments targeted on improving depiction of temperature anomalies near the storm center, and (3) assuming successful launch, a first look at retrievals produced from the new JPSS-1 ATMS mission.