The Research and Operational Value of the Midwave Infrared Sounding of Temperature and Humidity in a Constellation for Winds (MISTiC Winds) Mission Concept
An accurate description of dynamical atmospheric systems depends on knowledge of both kinematic and thermodynamic properties. Obtaining comprehensive and global measurements of wind to fully characterize the dynamical evolution of atmospheric systems has been historically challenging, especially in comparison to the thermodynamic sounding capabilities provided by the current Earth Observing System. The Midwave Infrared Sounding of Temperature and humidity in a Constellation for Winds (MISTiC Winds®) is a proposed mission concept designed to obtain the high priority 3D wind targeted observable identified in the NASA Earth Science Decadal Survey. By obtaining accurate, high resolution, and globally comprehensive atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) in concert with temperature and moisture profiles, MISTiC Winds has the potential to produce transformational science with a novel approach to studying the coupled kinematic and thermodynamic evolution of dynamical systems in unprecedented detail. We provide specific examples of how MISTiC Winds would advance the study of societally-consequential weather systems spanning the tropics to high latitudes. High resolution numerical simulations provide synthetic data from which MISTiC Wind data and study techniques is quantitatively evaluated.
