The Community Satellite Processing Package (CSPP) currently provides two retrieval algorithms to process hyperspectral sounder measurements in real-time, (a) the UW-Madison CrIS, AIRS and IASI Dual-Regression (DR) retrieval software and (b) the NOAA Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS). You recently visited http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/cspp and downloaded software to process direct-broadcast hyperspectral measurements to obtain atmospheric retrieval products. We need your feedback to help us improve the quality of software/products that we provide to you. Please take a few minutes to read through the brief summary below, answer the survey and share your thoughts about our software and products.
Please send your reply to cspp_issues@ssec.wisc.edu.
Thank you for your feedback.
CSPP Hyperspectral Sounder Retrieval Description and Survey:
Both algorithms, the UW Dual-Regression (DR) retrieval algorithm and the NOAA Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS), provide atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles as well as surface, trace gas and cloud parameters. These parameters are derived from high-spectral resolution radiance measurements from advanced operational sounders onboard polar-orbiting satellites. NUCAPS currently processes only CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder) measurements, whereas the DR can be applied to any of the operational sounders, i.e., AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder), IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) or CrIS. UW-DR is based on linear regression, which makes it fast and efficient, whereas NUCAPS incorporates an optimal estimation approach that results in more accurate and refined profiles. UW-DR uses infrared measurements only and provides the retrieval products for every individual field-of-view (of approx. 14 km at nadir) under clear conditions, and above clouds and below clouds if they are optically thin or broken. NUCAPS incorporates microwave data from ATMS (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder) to perform cloud-clearing, which results in lower spatial resolution (which is now approx. 50 km), but provides soundings below clouds (except for uniform optically thick clouds) and therefore a larger yield of retrievals under cloudy conditions. This tends to increase the overall spatial coverage and the yield in derived products like TPW (total precipitable water) and CAPE (convective available potential energy). The differences in retrieval yield and spatial resolution are noticeable in the following figure, which shows an arc of deep convection associated with the remnants of tropical storm Bill (21 June 2015) by means of CrIS brightness temperatures (BTs) at a window channel and temperature retrievals at the 700-hPa pressure level.
- UW-HRSurvey.png (292.65 KiB) Viewed 1465 times
Please answer the questionnaire:
- 1. What is your primary use of the software and products (e.g., education, research, operations, global or regional applications)? If possible we would appreciate some details, such as the name of the class you are teaching, the title of your research project, the weather process you monitor or forecast, etc.
2. Aqua (with AIRS onboard) and S-NPP (with CrIS onboard) fly in the afternoon orbit, whereas Metop-A and Metop-B (which carry IASI) fly in the morning orbit. Are you processing measurements from AIRS, CrIS and/or IASI, and are you interested in certain orbits (morning or afternoon)?
3. Are you interested in the continuity from one instrument to the other (e.g. between CrIS and AIRS) and/or in consecutive overpasses of all operational sounders?
4. Are you using NUCAPS or UW-DR or both?
5. What were the primary drivers for your decision (e.g., speed, efficiency, spatial resolution of products, availability)?
6. What parameters are you most interested in for your application: temperature and moisture profiles, cloud information, surface parameters, trace gas concentrations, etc.?
7. Are there parameters not currently provided that you need for your day-to-day activities or research?
8. Given the summary and figure above, which products match your needs best: (a) products at 14-km spatial resolution with detailed cloud information but with a decreased data yield below thick clouds, or (b) products at coarser spatial resolution (i.e., 50-km) but with an increased spatial coverage and a higher data yield in the lower troposphere?
9. If neither product matches your needs exactly, what would?
10. Were you satisfied with each product's accuracy or did you find one algorithm to be more appropriate for your application?
11. Do you use the hyperspectral retrieval products with other data in your application? If so, please specify.
12. What aspects of the retrieval software package(s) would you like to see further developed?
Regards,
The CSPP Team