Assessment and Optimization of IR Radiance Measurements for Climate, Assimilation, and Remote Sensing Applications, using high resolution spectra (S-HIS, AIRS, CrIS, and IASI) as transfer standards for other IR observations (MODIS, VIIRS, CERES, GOES)
Principal Investigator
Henry E Revercomb
University of Wisconsin Madison
Space Science and Engineering Center
1225 W Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53706
E-mail: hankr@ssec.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-263-6758
Fax: 608-263-6738
Abstract
The primary objectives are to assess and optimize (1) long-term consistency and accuracy of EOS IR radiances that form the basis for climate, forecasting, and key remote sensing applications from Terra and Aqua, and (2) pre-flight calibration and characterization of the CrIS and VIIRS instruments under development for NPP/NPOESS that will continue the EOS science applications into the future. This will be a comprehensive effort that addresses the full complement of available IR measurements and helps to establish the detailed pre- and post-flight radiometric characteristics needed to optimize a wide range of applications. The radiances themselves are considered to be key Earth System Data Records (ESDR) and specific combinations will become Climate Data Records (CDRs). The foundation for this effort is the fundamentally high calibration accuracy achievable from high spectral resolution infrared measurements like AIRS and CrIS. High spectral resolution, coupled with broad spectral coverage, is also important to providing an effective transfer standard for lower resolution instruments. In addition to the space borne instruments from EOS, we will make use of our Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) aircraft instrument validated with laboratory comparisons incorporating NIST standards, the MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) that provides very high spatial resolution, and the IASI high resolution sounder on MetOp. Both the S-HIS and IASI have continuous spectral coverage from about 3 to greater than 15 microns. The connection between instruments on platforms in different orbits are accomplished by using overlapping orbits at high latitudes, by comparing with GOES, and especially by using aircraft-based S-HIS spectra as a link. Direct aircraft radiance comparisons over the life of the EOS mission provide the only way to re-establish connection with NIST standards post launch.
Our previous accomplishments through EOS AIRS, MODIS and NPP Science Teams prove the feasibility and high value of this effort.
|
