Monday, 10 February 2003
The HIRS Pathfinder Radiance data set (1979–2001)
The latest version of the HIRS Pathfinder Radiance data set provides a 23-year global data set of clear-sky and cloudy radiance data. This data set includes improvements to cloud detection and limb correction that provide more clear-sky observations than the previous version. Cloud parameters were retrieved using the CO2 slicing technique of Wylie-Menzel, and total-sky radiance was archived for selected temperature and water vapor channels. An enhanced quality control data set is now available that provides first through fourth moment radiance statistics for each 1b orbital data file. We explore a new method for adjusting the inter-satellite bias correction that utilizes forward-calculated HIRS radiance from NCEP Reanalysis profiles. A discussion on interannual variations and trends of upper tropospheric humidity and temperature based on the clear-sky radiance from this Pathfinder data set will be presented.
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