The Atmosphere Team
Bryan A. Baum, Atmosphere Discipline Lead
N. Christina Hsu, Suomi-NPP Deputy Project Scientist
James F. Gleason, Suomi-NPP Project Scientist
What is our goal?
The team is to transition its experience in generating operational products from NASA's Terra/Aqua sensors to the Suomi-NPP sensors to continue cloud, aerosol, and clear-sky atmosphere climate data records into the future. In moving towards this goal, several of our projects intend to use data from multiple S-NPP sensors. For example, cloud properties will be derived using a combination of VIIRS and CrIS data. CrIS supplies measurements in the broad 6.7-µm water vapor and 15-µm carbon dioxide absorption regions that are unavailable from VIIRS. For this reason, we are going to be paying close attention to the IR cal/val effort led by Dave Tobin (SSEC/UW-Madison).
Current Team Investigations
The individual efforts are listed below in alphabetical order.
| Principal Investigator | Institution | Title of Study |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan A. Baum | SSEC/University of Wisconsin-Madison | Continuity of cloud top pressure and cloud infrared thermodynamic phase by combining CrIS and VIIRS Measurements View abstract Project Site |
| Eva Borbas | SSEC/University of Wisconsin-Madison | Continuity of EOS clear-sky infrared total precipitable water vapor product using a combination of VIIRS and CrIMSS measurements View abstract |
| Chris Elvidge | NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC | VIIRS Nighttime Lights View abstract |
| Bo-Cai Gao | Naval Research Laboratory | Continuation of standard cirrus reflectance product from the EOS Terra and Aqua MODIS to Suomi-NPP VIIRS View abstract |
| N. Christina Hsu | NASA GSFC | Extending long-term aerosol data records from MODIS to VIIRS: Data continuity and enhancements to the Deep Blue algorithm View abstract |
| Robert Levy | NASA GSFC | A consistent dark-target aerosol data record created from MODIS, VIIRS, and beyond View abstract Dark Target Project Site |
| Steven Platnick | NASA GSFC | Development of VIIRS L2 cloud and L3 gridded Atmosphere Team products for NASA research and EOS data record continuity View abstract |
| Jun Wang | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Evaluate and enhance Suomi-NPP products for air quality and public health applications View abstract Group Site |
How will we generate products?
The team will work closely with the Atmosphere Science Investigator-led Processing System (A-SIPS) to produce and evaluate the science data products that will be developed by the Atmosphere Team. There is an extraordinary amount of activity at this time, with efforts to:
- Develop Level 1B data formats for each sensor that include the best calibration knowledge. The new Level 1B data formats for VIIRS and CrIS/ATMS are under development at this time. It seems likely that NetCDF4 will be the format of these granules.
- Transition from the Atmosphere Product Evaluation and Analysis Tool Element (i.e., the Atmosphere PEATE) to the Atmosphere SIPS/
- Transition algorithm production software from current or historical sensors (e.g., MODIS, AIRS, AVHRR, HIRS, DMSP, etc.) to S-NPP sensors.
- Develop output products similar to those available from current/historical sensors. The science team appears to be leaning towards adopting NetCDF4 for future Level-2 and Level-3 products.
- Employ comprehensive validation strategy for all products.
- Work towards being able to continue the quality of existing cloud/aerosol/water vapor/other climate data records and demonstrate continuity with existing records, which leads to the next question:
How will we attain continuity in our products?
Good question. Each team has outlined an approach to proving continuity with the different products, but this is easier said than done. The most critical aspect of continuity begins with ensuring that the sensor calibration is well understood.