An All-Weather, Multi-Platform Hyperspectral Retrieval System: The NOAA Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS); Recent Algorithm Enhancements Geared Toward Near–Real Time and Long-Term User Applications

Focus of this presentation is an overview on the status of the NOAA Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS). Since February 2013, NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO has been running three hyper spectral sounding product processing systems: 1) the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AIRS/AMSU) retrieval product processing system; 2) the Infrared Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer/ Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit/Microwave Humidity Sounder (IASI/AMSU/MHS) NOAA unique cloud-cleared radiances and trace gas product processing system, which has been running operationally since 2008 (MetOp A) and 2014 (MetOp B); and 3) the NOAA Unique Cross-track Infrared Sounder/ Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (CrIS/ATMS) processing system (NUCAPS), which has become operational in the Fall of 2013. In 2017 we delivered a significant upgrade of the NUCAPS system that enables full functional processing of high spectral resolution NPP CrIS Sensor Data Records (SDRs). The long term strategy of NOAA/NESDIS will also involve the operational processing of the future JPSS and MetOp C missions, spanning a total period of ~30 years of hyper spectral remote sounding data processing.

The full suite of NUCAPS Environmental Data Records (EDRs) comprises of skin temperature, cloud parameters and vertical profiles of temperature, water vapor and trace gases such as: ozone, methane, carbon monoxide, nitric acid, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. NUCAPS retrieval products are accessible in near real time (about 1.5 hour delay) through the NOAA Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS). Since February 2015, NUCAPS retrievals have been also accessible via Direct Broadcast, with unprecedented low latency of less than 0.5 hours.

This presentation provides an overview of the recent algorithm upgrades geared toward ensuring users with the highest retrieval product quality with an emphasis on assessing the NUCAPS retrieval skills for real time weather and long term series applications. Emphasis will also be put on investigating the homogeneity and consistency across the multi-year, multi-platform operational sounders (AIRS, IASI and CrIS) and readiness for J1.