Hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounders, or advanced IR sounders, such as the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on Aqua, the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on Metop series, and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) on Suomi-NPP (SNPP) and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) series, provide high vertical resolution atmospheric sounding information that can improve the forecast skill in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. However, those high quality measurements are only available in sun synchronous orbits. Enabling such measurements in geostationary (GEO) orbits would greatly enhance the current forecast capability. For more details about GEO hyperspectral IR sounders, please refer to the 2021 NOAA/NESDIS Technical Report, the overview by Revercomb and Menzel 2019, and the Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics paper by William Smith et al. (2009).
Adkins, Jeffrey;Alsheimer, Frank;Ardanuy, Phillip;Boukabara, Sid;Casey, Sean;Coakley, Monica;Conran, Joseph;Cucurull, Lidia;Daniels, Jaime;Ditchek, Sarah D.;Gallagher, Frank;Garrett, Kevin;Gerth, Jordan;Goldberg, Mitch;Goodman, Steve;Grigsby, Ed;Griffin, Michael;Griffin, Vanessa;Hardesty, Michael;Iturbide, Flavio;Kalluri, Satya;Knuteson, Robert;Krimchansky, Alexander;Lauer, Christopher;Lindsey, Dan;McCarty, Will;McCorkel, Joel;Ostroy, Joanne;Pogorzala, David;Revercomb, Hank;Rivera, Richard;Seybold, Matt;Schmit, Timothy;Smith, Bill;Sullivan, Pamela;Talaat, Elsayed;Tewey, Kevin;Todirita, Monica;Tremblay, Denis;Vassiliadis, Dimitrious;Weir, Patricia;Yoe, James, 2021: Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) Hyperspectral InfraRed Sounder Value Assessment Report, NOAA/NESDIS Technical Report, 103pp., https://doi.org/10.25923/7zvz-
Smith Sr., W. L., Revercomb, H., Bingham, G., Larar, A., Huang, H., Zhou, D., Li, J., Liu, X., and Kireev, S.: Technical Note: Evolution, current capabilities, and future advance in satellite nadir viewing ultra-spectral IR sounding of the lower atmosphere, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 5563-5574, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-5563-2009, 2009. (link)
Why is GEO Hyperspectral IR sounder is needed?
- Information on water vapor transportation both horizontally and vertically (especially in the boundary layer) is key to forecasting severe storms (deep convective, tornadic storms) over continental US (CONUS). Only advanced sounding mission from geostationary (GEO) orbit can provide such needed high temporal and high spatial resolution 4-D moisture and dynamic motion information.
- Moisture and wind observations are critical for storm prediction through assimilating into regional or storm scale NWP models over CONUS.
- The economic estimates from the report by Sharon K. Bard and Todd A. Doehring of Centrec 2007 describe significant and broad impacts on many economic activities. As well as a 2021 NOAA/NESDIS Technical Report.
, 2009: High-Spectral- and High-Temporal-Resolution Infrared Measurements from Geostationary Orbit. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 26, 2273–2292, https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JTECHA1248.1 (link)
Di, D., Li, J., Li, Z., Li, J., Schmit, T. J., & Menzel, W. P. (2021). Can current hyperspectral infrared sounders capture the small scale atmospheric water vapor spatial variations? Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2021GL095825. https://doi.
GOES-R Series ABI is not a sounder!
- There is little vertical information available from ABI measurements, especially for temperature, although it can be used to continue the legacy GOES Sounder atmospheric profile (LAP) products, especially for moisture.
Schmit, T. J., J. Li, J. J. Gurka, M. D. Goldberg, K. Schrab, Jinlong Li, and W. Feltz, 2008: The GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager and the continuation of current GOES sounder products, J. of Appl. Meteorol. and Climatology, 47, 2696 – 2711. (link)
Wang, F., J. Li, T. J. Schmit, and Steven A. Ackerman, 2007: Trade-off studies of a hyperspectral infrared sounder on a geostationary satellite. Applied Optics., 46, 200 – 209. (link)
- ABI provides added value on atmospheric water vapor information for storm forecast, and there will be more impact from GEO advanced IR sounder
Wang, Pei, Jun Li, Bing Lu, Timothy J. Schmit, Jiazhen Lu, Yong-Keun Lee, Jinlong Li, and Zhiquan Liu, 2018: Impact of moisture information from Advanced Himawari Imager measurements on heavy precipitation forecasts in a regional NWP model, Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, 123, 6022 – 6038. (link).
Smith, W. L., Sr, Zhang, Q., Shao, M., & Weisz, E. (2020). Improved Severe Weather Forecasts Using LEO and GEO Satellite Soundings, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 37(7), 1203-1218. https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/atot/37/7/jtechD190158.xml
If you have any question about this website, please contact Tim Schmit.
