Evaluations and Applications of Newly-Developed GEO-GEO and LEO-GEO Stereo Products
Height assignment is one of the leading uncertainties of atmospheric motion vector (AMV) measurements derived from Low-Earth Orbiting (LEO) and Geostationary (GEO) sensors. The IR methods are subject to limitations when applied to VIS height assignment and in complex atmospheric thermal structures such as temperature inversions. In this paper, we compare the recent stereo products developed from the GEO-GEO and LEO-GEO 3D-Winds algorithm with operational AMV data and aircraft observations such as those from the Doppler Aerosol WiNd Lidar (DAWN) and the Compact Midwave Imaging System (CMIS). To characterize the GEO-GEO stereo wind and height quality, we will further compare the stereo data with Aeolus line-of-sight (LOS) Doppler wind data for a limited number of orbits.
A key objective of developing the GEO-GEO and GEO-LEO stereo technique is to improve AMVs’ height assignment. By providing a direct geometric height measurement of the feature pattern from which AMVs are derived, we argue that the stereo height represents AMV height better than other methods. With the 3D-Winds algorithm, we have successfully demonstrated several science applications, including highly-dynamic cloud tops over the tropical cyclone, the stratocumulus-to-trade-cumulus transition in a shallow marine boundary layer (MBL), and the diurnal variation of wildfire plumes over California. We aim to apply the 3D Winds technique to the LEO-LEO stereo for the polar regions in future development.
