Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS Observations

A project for deriving temperature and humidity profiles from High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) observations is underway to build a long-term dataset for climate applications. The retrieval algorithm development of the project includes a neural network retrieval scheme, a two-tiered...

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Main Authors: Lei Shi, Jessica L. Matthews, Shu-peng Ho, Qiong Yang, John J. Bates
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-03-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/4/280
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author Lei Shi
Jessica L. Matthews
Shu-peng Ho
Qiong Yang
John J. Bates
author_facet Lei Shi
Jessica L. Matthews
Shu-peng Ho
Qiong Yang
John J. Bates
author_sort Lei Shi
collection DOAJ
description A project for deriving temperature and humidity profiles from High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) observations is underway to build a long-term dataset for climate applications. The retrieval algorithm development of the project includes a neural network retrieval scheme, a two-tiered cloud screening method, and a calibration using radiosonde and Global Positioning System Radio Occultation (GPS RO) measurements. As atmospheric profiles over high surface elevations can differ significantly from those over low elevations, different neural networks are developed for three classifications of surface elevations. The significant impact from the increase of carbon dioxide in the last several decades on HIRS temperature sounding channel measurements is accounted for in the retrieval scheme. The cloud screening method added one more step from the HIRS-only approach by incorporating the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) observations to assess the likelihood of cloudiness in HIRS pixels. Calibrating the retrievals with radiosonde and GPS RO reduces biases in retrieved temperature and humidity. Except for the lowest pressure level which exhibits larger variability, the mean biases are within ±0.3 °C for temperature and within ±0.2 g/kg for specific humidity at standard pressure levels, globally. Overall, the HIRS temperature and specific humidity retrievals closely align with radiosonde and GPS RO observations in providing measurements of the global atmosphere to support other relevant climate dataset development.
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spelling doaj.art-f0cbfb1640df4674904d6760d44a5fdb2022-12-21T23:51:09ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922016-03-018428010.3390/rs8040280rs8040280Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS ObservationsLei Shi0Jessica L. Matthews1Shu-peng Ho2Qiong Yang3John J. Bates4NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801, USANOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801, USACOSMIC Project Office, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307, USAJoint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, Seattle, WA 98105, USANOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801, USAA project for deriving temperature and humidity profiles from High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) observations is underway to build a long-term dataset for climate applications. The retrieval algorithm development of the project includes a neural network retrieval scheme, a two-tiered cloud screening method, and a calibration using radiosonde and Global Positioning System Radio Occultation (GPS RO) measurements. As atmospheric profiles over high surface elevations can differ significantly from those over low elevations, different neural networks are developed for three classifications of surface elevations. The significant impact from the increase of carbon dioxide in the last several decades on HIRS temperature sounding channel measurements is accounted for in the retrieval scheme. The cloud screening method added one more step from the HIRS-only approach by incorporating the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) observations to assess the likelihood of cloudiness in HIRS pixels. Calibrating the retrievals with radiosonde and GPS RO reduces biases in retrieved temperature and humidity. Except for the lowest pressure level which exhibits larger variability, the mean biases are within ±0.3 °C for temperature and within ±0.2 g/kg for specific humidity at standard pressure levels, globally. Overall, the HIRS temperature and specific humidity retrievals closely align with radiosonde and GPS RO observations in providing measurements of the global atmosphere to support other relevant climate dataset development.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/4/280temperaturehumidityHIRSretrieval algorithms and methodssatellite observation
spellingShingle Lei Shi
Jessica L. Matthews
Shu-peng Ho
Qiong Yang
John J. Bates
Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS Observations
Remote Sensing
temperature
humidity
HIRS
retrieval algorithms and methods
satellite observation
title Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS Observations
title_full Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS Observations
title_fullStr Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS Observations
title_full_unstemmed Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS Observations
title_short Algorithm Development of Temperature and Humidity Profile Retrievals for Long-Term HIRS Observations
title_sort algorithm development of temperature and humidity profile retrievals for long term hirs observations
topic temperature
humidity
HIRS
retrieval algorithms and methods
satellite observation
url http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/4/280
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