Operational Implementation of the ATOVS Processing Procedure in KMA and Its Validation

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has processed the data from the advanced TOVS(ATOVS) onboard NOAA-16 satellite since May 2001. The operational production utilizes the AAPP(ATOVS and AVHRR Processing Package) of EUMETSAT and IAPP (International ATOVS ProcessingPackage) of the University of Wisconsin. For the initial guess profiles, the predicted fields (usually 6 to 12hour forecasted fields) from the global aviation model of NOAA/NCEP are used. The average number ofprofiles retrieved from the ATOVS data is about 1,300 for each morning and afternoon orbit at about 18 and06 UTC, respectively. The retrieved temperature and dew point temperatures are provided to forecastersin real time and used for initialization of prediction models. With the advanced microwave sensor (AMSU;Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit), accuracy of the ATOVS products is expected to be better than thatof the TOVS products, especially in cloudy conditions. Indeed, the preliminary results from a validationstudy with the collocated radiosonde data during a 8-month period, from May to December 2001, for theEast Asia region show an improved accuracy of the ATOVS products for cloudy skies versus the TOVS,especially for higher altitudes. The RMS (Root Mean Square) difference between the ATOVS productsand radiosonde data is about 1.3℃ for both clear and cloudy conditions, except for near the ground and athigher altitudes, at around 200 hPa. There is no significant temporal variation of the error statistics at allpressure levels. In case of the water vapor mixing ratio, the largest difference is shown at lower altitudes,while the accuracy is much better for the clear sky cases than the cloudy sky cases. The bias and RMSEat lower altitudes is about 0.557 g kg-1 and 2.5 g kg-1 and decrease significantly with increasing altitude.     

极轨气象卫星TOVS资料微机处理系统简介

极轨气象卫星大气垂直探测（ＴＯＶＳ）资料微机处理系统可实时接收处理ＴＯＶＳ／ＨＲＰＴ资料，生成空间分辨率约７５（或５０）ｋｍ的大气温度和湿度廓线、位势高度、热成风、大气中水汽总含量、射出长波辐射（ＯＬＲ）、臭氧总含量等大气参数以及ＴＯＶＳ水汽图象等产品。其中，大气温度的平均相对误差为２．５Ｋ，大气湿度的平均相对误差为２５％。由于气象卫星覆盖范围广，观测频次多，因此，ＴＯＶＳ产品可弥补海洋、高原、沙漠等地区常规探测资料之不足。     

Determination of water vapor and liquid water content by an iterative method

Summary A simple method of retrieving water vapor and liquid water content is presented and validated by applying the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager data using ground truth data from Japan. The method is based on an iterative technique which uses model functions of relating two geophysical parameters to brightness temperature. Water vapor is found by a model function of relating water vapor content to brightness temperature at 22.235 GHz. Liquid water content is found by two model functions. One function defines a level of clear sky condition, and the other gives a ratio of liquid water content to brightness temperature increased from clear sky conditions. The retrieved water vaporcontent is compared with upper air observations at Chichijima Island. The rms of errors is estimated at 3.3 Kg m^–2. The retrieved liquid water content is related to monthly precipitation observed at Chichijima Island, and a correlation coefficient of 0.68 is obtained.With 7 Figures     

Estimates of the Chemical Budget for Ozone at Waliguan Observatory

Waliguan Observatory (WO) is an in-land Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) baseline station on the Tibetan plateau. In addition to the routine GAW measurement program at WO, measurements of trace gases, especially ozone precursors, were made for some periods from 1994 to 1996. The ozone chemical budget at WO was estimated using a box model constrained by these measured trace gas concentrations and meteorological variables. Air masses at WO are usually affected by the boundary layer (BL) in the daytime associated with an upslope flow, while it is affected by the free troposphere (FT) at night associated with a downslope flow. An anti-relationship between ozone and water vapor concentrations at WO is found by investigating the average diurnal cycle pattern of ozone and water vapor under clear sky conditions. This relationship implies that air masses at WO have both the FT and BL characteristics. Model simulations were carried out for clear sky conditions in January and July of 1996, respectively. The chemical characteristics of mixed air masses (MC) and of free tropospheric air masses (FT) at WO were investigated. The effects of the variation in NO_x and water vapor concentrations on the chemical budget of ozone at WO were evaluated for the considered periods of time. It was shown that ozone was net produced in January and net destroyed in July for both FT and MC conditions at WO. The estimated net ozone production rate at WO was –0.1 to 0.4 ppbv day^–1 in FT air of January, 0.0 to 1.0 ppbv day^–1 in MC air of January, –4.9 to –0.2 ppbv day^–1 in FT air of July, and –5.1 to 2.1 ppbv day^–1 in MC air of July.     

晴空时大气红外遥感及其反演问题研究 II. 反演试验研究

前文给出了卫星红外观测资料的反演处理方法，并对方法作了理论上的分析，在本文中，我们将此方法应用到TOVS、GOES-8实际资料及AIRS模拟观测资料处理中并重点对TOVS资料进行试验。在反演中，我们将大气温度廓线和水汽混合比（lnq）廓线用各自的经验正交函数（EOF）表示以提高反演的稳定性并缩短计算时间，同时采用一种过滤操作以加速迭代的收敛速度。除了用本文提出的方法对TOVS资料进行处理外，还用国际TOVS处理软件包（ITPP-4.0）对同样的资料进行反演。试验表明，本文方法的反演结果优于ITPP的结果。AIRS模拟反演结果表明，高分辨率红外垂直探测器的遥感精度能够达到温度1 K、水汽10%。     

半透明云风矢量高度算法中云下背景辐射的估计

半透明云风矢量高度指定是卫星风矢量算法的重要部分,需要来自半透明云体的辐射和云下背景辐射两个变量。云下背景辐射发生在云层下面,未被卫星直接观测到,为了在半透明云风矢量高度指定算法中更精确地获得云下背景辐射,使用风矢量附近无云区的红外/水汽散点图,估计云下背景辐射。分析表明:在追踪区域里存在无云区的情况下,追踪区的最高红外亮温可代表红外通道的背景辐射;而水汽通道的背景辐射,却在红外亮温高值区段内水汽亮温相对较低区段。追踪区内找不到无云区时应扩大搜索范围,找到无云区后可估计云下背景辐射。在半透明云风矢量高度指定算法中使用云下背景辐射估计的改进算法前后,计算FY-2气象卫星进行风矢量,并将结果与欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）分析场进行对比表明,在半透明风矢量高度指定算法中使用云下背景辐射估计,FY-2气象卫星风矢量误差明显降低。     

Determination of moisture changes prior to the onset of south-west monsoon over Kerala using NOAA/TOVS satellite data

Summary The temperature and moisture data from TIROS operational vertical sounder (TOVS) are examined to obtain humidity parameters like, mid and upper tropospheric water vapour, and scale height of water vapour. Their usefulness in characterizing the onset of south-west (SW) monsoon over India is studied. The NOAA satellite data (finished product) with a resolution of 2.5° lat/lon are used to obtain these parameters during and prior to the SW monsoon season over selected regions during 1979 to 1985. The pentad averaged values in the western Indian Ocean showed an increase in scale height of water vapour and mid-tropospheric moisture (700–500 mb) over about 8 to 10 days prior to the onset over Kerala coast. The association of the moisture flux across the Indian Ocean and the rainfall over Kerala coast has also been examined. Results showed that the gradient of middle level moisture is stronger in the case of rainfall deficit years.With 13 Figures     

利用静止卫星窗区红外亮温反演晴空区风场的初步研究

云导风反演明显的局限是在晴空区无法获取风场。为克服这种局限,提出利用静止卫星红外图像资料反演晴空区风场的方法—时间序列差值法,利用LOWTRAN7对其进行可行性分析,并应用云导风实验系统CWIS进行晴空区导风实验。结果表明：实验结果与NCEP资料低空风场有很好的一致性。因此,在传统的“云导风”基础上,增加晴空区卫星导风,可为卫星遥感资料在台风、梅雨和强对流等天气系统分析预报中的定量应用提供更多的卫星风矢。     

A hybrid technique for computing the monthly mean net longwave surface radiation over oceanic areas

Summary Global maps of the monthly mean net upward longwave radiation flux at the ocean surface have been obtained for April, July, October 1985 and January 1986. These maps were produced by blending information obtained from a combination of general circulation model cloud radiative forcing fields, the top-of-the-atmosphere cloud radiative forcing from ERBE and TOVS profiles and sea surface temperature on ISCCP C1 tapes. The fields are compatible with known meteorological regimes of atmospheric water vapor content and cloudiness. There is a vast area of high net upward longwave radiation flux (> 80 W m^–2) in the eastern Pacific Ocean throughout most of the year. Areas of low net upward longwave radiation flux (< 40 Wm^–2) are the tropical convective regions and extra tropical regions that tend to have persistent low cloud cover. The technique used in this study relies on GCM simulations and so is subject to some of the uncertainties associated with the model. However, all input information regarding temperature, moisture and cloud cover is from satellite data having near global coverage. This feature of the procedure alone warrants its consideration for further use in compiling global maps of the net longwave radiation at the surface over the oceans.With 9 Figures     

用多光谱卫星信息分析白昼云天条件下的湿度场

TOVS资料的晴空湿度场反演已进行多年 ,如何利用卫星遥感信息实现云天条件下的湿度场反演 ,仍是一个值得研究的问题。多光谱卫星图像上不同云类的云层高低分布蕴涵着三维湿度场的分布信息 ,文中用相关分析、最小二乘拟合分析和多元线性回归分析分别讨论了多光谱卫星信息与各标准层相对湿度的关系。标准回归分析的复相关系数R在地面最小 ,约为 0 6 4,随高度增加 ,R逐层增大 ,70 0hPa以上大于 0 7,2 5 0hPa以上大于 0 8。相应显著性检验的结果F值从地面的 30 71,也逐层增大 ,至 2 0 0hPa时达 119 36。逐步回归分析在剔除了不显著的变量因子后 ,回归自变量减少到 2～ 4个 ,反映显著水平的F值有较大提高。在此基础上建立了一组云天条件下的多元线性回归方程 ,由此可得到具有卫星图像像素分辨率 (8～ 10km)的 9层湿度场。     

Remote sensing of cloud liquid water

Summary A method is presented to infer cloud liquid water path (LWP in kg/m²) over the ocean from passive microwave measurements of SSM/I. The algorithm to retrieve LWP is based on simulated satellite observations. They are calculated with a radiative transfer model applied to about 3000 radiosonde ascents over the Atlantic Ocean. Since radiosonde observations do not contain direct information about cloud water and ice, these parameters are parameterized based on relative humidity and temperature using modified adiabatic liquid water density profiles. A multiple linear regression is applied to the simulated radiances and the calculated LWP to derive the algorithm. The retrieval accuracy based on the regression analysis including instrumental noise is 0.03 kg/m². Validation of the LWP-algorithm was pursued through a comparison with measurements of a ground-based 33 GHzmicrowave radiometer on board of R.V. Poseidon during the International Cirrus Experiment 1989 at the North Sea (ICE'89). The LWP values agree within the range of uncertainty caused by the different sampling characteristics of the observing systems. The retrieval accuracy for clear-sky cases determined using colocated METEOSAT data over the North Sea is 0.037 kg/m² and confirms the accuracy estimated from regression analysis for the low liquid water cases.The algorithm was used to derive maps of monthly mean LWP over the Atlantic Ocean. As an example the Octobers of the 5 years 1987–1991 were selected to demonstrate the interannual variability of LWP. The results were compared with the cloud water content produced by the climate model ECHAM-T2 from the Max-Planck-Institut Hamburg.Observations during ICE'89 were used to check the accuracy of the applied radiative transfer model. Brightness temperatures were calculated from radiosonde ascents launched during the overpass of DMSP-F8 in cloud-free situations. The channel-dependent differences range from about –2 to 3 K.The possibility to identify different cloud types using microwave and infrared observations was examined. The main conclusion is that simultaneous microwave and infrared measurements enable the separation of dense cirrus and cirrus with underlying water clouds. A classification of clouds with respect to their top heights and LWP was carried out using a combination of SSM/I derived LWP and simultaneously recorded Meteosat IR-data during ICE'89.With 11 Figures     

APPLICATION OF THE VARIATIONAL METHOD OF TOVS DATA OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU IN IMPROVEMENT OF THE INITIAL FIELD OF NUMERICAL MODELS

In this paper,TOVS satellite data are used through variational method on the data-sparseplateau area.Diagnoses are carried out to find a way to solve the large error problem of modelinitial field.It is put forward that TOVS retrieval data can be used to improve the initial field ofnumerical prediction model on Tibetan Plateau area.Through variational method,TOVS data areprocessed and the liability of the initial information on the plateau is improved.Diagnostic resultsconfirm further that the application of TOVS retrieval data can improve our capability to describethe dynamic system features on the plateau and the objectivity of related initial information such asthe distribution of water vapor channel and stratification stability.     

APPLICATION OF THE VARIATIONAL METHOD OF TOVS DATA OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU IN IMPROVEMENT OF THE INITIAL FIELD OF NUMERICAL MODELS*

In this paper,TOVS satellite data are used through variational method on the data-sparse plateau area.Diagnoses are carried out to find a way to solve the large error problem of model initial field.It is put forward that TOVS retrieval data can be used to improve the initial field of numerical prediction model on Tibetan Plateau area.Through variational method,TOVS data are processed and the liability of the initial information on the plateau is improved.Diagnostic results confirm further that the application of TOVS retrieval data can improve our capability to describe the dynamic system features on the plateau and the objectivity of related initial information such as the distribution of water vapor channel and stratification stability.     

Rain rate estimation from a synergetic use of SSM/I, AVHRR and meso-scale numerical model data

Summary In this paper a retrieval technique for estimating rainfall rates is introduced. The novel feature of this technique is the combination of two satellite radiometers — the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and the Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) — with mesoscale weather prediction model data. This offers an adjustment of the model atmospheres to reality which is necessary for calculating brightness temperatures that can be compared with microwave satellite measurements.In sensitivity studies it was found that the estimation of precipitation is determined to a high degree by the particle size distribution of rain and snow, especially by the size distribution of solid hydrometeors. These studies also reveal the influence of the knowledge of the correct cloud coverage inside a SSM/I pixel and the importance of using a realistic temperature profile instead of using standard atmospheres.The retrieval technique is based on radiative transfer calculations using the model of Kummerow et al. (1989). The algorithm consists of two parts: First Guess (FG) brightness temperatures for the SSM/I frequencies are generated as a function of the cloud top height and the cloud coverage, derived from AVHRR data and predictions from a meso-scale model. The rainfall rate of different types of clouds containing raindrops, ice particles and coexisting ice and water hydrometeors is then calculated as a function of the cloud top height. As an example, a strong convective rain event over the western part of Europe and over the Alps is taken to evaluate the performance of this technique. Good agreement with radar data from the German Weather Service was achieved. Compared to statistical rainfall algorithms, the current algorithm shows a better performance of detecting rainfall areas.With 12 Figures     

洋面水汽的微波SSM/I资料反演试验

结合1987年7月华北一次降水过程，利用SSM/I微波资料反演了渤海湾洋面大气柱水汽含量。反演结果与探空资料以及天气实况的对比分析表明，洋面大气柱水汽总含量的SSM/I微波反演结果与探空观测符合得较好，而且能够较好地反映非阵性降水的空间分布和时间变化。     

AN ERROR ANALYSIS ON THE SIMULATED DATA OF TOVS HIRS BY RTTOV5 MODEL

The sounding data of meteorological satellites provide not only the real time weatherinformation about the distribution of both cloud and rainfall,but also some others about themovement and state of atmosphere.They are important variables and parameters for NWP modelused to simulate and predict atmospheric state.In order to introduce remote sensing informationfrom satellites into NWP model,there is an efficient way of establishing an RT model by use of theatmosphere radiation sounding data of meteorological satellites to get the variables and parametersvaluable to NWP model.In this paper,we set up profiles of air temperature and water vapor fromthe surface to upper (0.1 hPa) using the radiosounding data and the surface data from May toAugust 1998 atmosphere East Asia.A TOVS RT model (RTTOV5) is provided to compute thevalue of radiation value of HIRS channels in NOAA14.Then the radiation values of 19 HIRSchannels are gotten.After matching these data computed by the RT model and the correspondingvalues coming from satellite sounding in time,the statistic distribution of bias between tile modeloutput and the satellite sounding at each sounding channel can be gotten.At the same time.thedistribution of RMS to every TOVS HIRS channel,the standard biases to different scanning angleto each channel are also obtained.     

AN ERROR ANALYSIS ON THE SIMULATED DATA OF TOVS HIRS BY RTTOV5 MODEL*

The sounding data of meteorological satellites provide not only the real time weather information about the distribution of both cloud and rainfall,but also some others about the movement and state of atmosphere.They are important variables and parameters for NWP model used to simulate and predict atmospheric state.In order to introduce remote sensing information from satellites into NWP model,there is an efficient way of establishing an RT model by use of the atmosphere radiation sounding data of meteorological satellites to get the variables and parameters valuable to NWP model.In this paper,we set up profiles of air temperature and water vapor from the surface to upper (0.1 hPa) using the radiosounding data and the surface data from May to August 1998 atmosphere East Asia.A TOVS RT model (RTTOV5) is provided to compute the value of radiation value of HIRS channels in NOAA14.Then the radiation values of 19 HIRS channels are gotten.After matching these data computed by the RT model and the corresponding values coming from satellite sounding in time,the statistic distribution of bias between tile model output and the satellite sounding at each sounding channel can be gotten.At the same time.the distribution of RMS to every TOVS HIRS channel,the standard biases to different scanning angle to each channel are also obtained.     

A cloud-resolving modeling study of short-term surface rainfall processes

The short-term tropical surface rainfall processes in rainfall regions (raining stratiform and convective regions) and rainfall-free regions (non-raining stratiform and clear-sky regions) are investigated based on the hourly data from a two-dimensional cloud-resolving model simulation. The model is integrated over a 21-day period with imposed zonally uniform vertical velocity, zonal wind, horizontal temperature and vapor advection, and sea surface temperature from the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). The analysis of the model domain-mean surface rainfall budget reveals that surface rainfall is mainly associated with water vapor convergence and local atmospheric drying. The mean surface rainfall lags the mean water vapor convergence by 3?h. The convective?Cstratiform rainfall separation analysis shows that convective rainfall is associated with water vapor convergence, whereas stratiform rainfall is related to the local atmospheric drying and hydrometeor loss/convergence. The transport of water vapor from rainfall-free regions to rainfall regions creates the main water vapor source for rainfall while it balances local atmospheric drying in rainfall-free regions. Surface evaporation plays a minor role in short-term surface rainfall processes.     

Physical retrievals of over-ocean rain rate from multichannel microwave imagery. Part II: Algorithm implementation

Summary A new physical inversion-based algorithm for retrieving rain rate over the ocean with the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) is described. In a departure from other rain rate retrieval algorithms, the satellite observables inverted in the present algorithm are not the raw brightness temperatures but rather normalized polarizations for 19.35, 37.0, and 85.5 GHz, plus an 85.5 GHz scattering index which is sensitive primarily to ice particles aloft. The normalized polarizations are interpreted as footprint-averages of theoretically derived analytic functions of the column optical depth associated primarily with liquid water. The effective vertical depth of the rain layer is specified as a function of the SSM/I estimated column water vapor.The retrieval algorithm performs an iterative search for a high resolution (12.5 km) rain field which is simultaneously consistent with the 19.35 and 37.0 GHz normalized polarizations. The first-guess rain rate field is supplied by the 85.5 GHz scattering index. At gridpoints for which the rain column optical depth exceeds the dynamic range of the attenuation-based indices, the first-guess field is left essentially unmodified; elsewhere, the required consistency with the 19 and 37 GHz indices usually results in significant modification of the scattering-based rain rate estimates.The algorithm as described here is a prototype implementation which was developed with reference only to idealized theoretical models; empirical improvements to the numerical scheme and the model coefficients will be made in the future as results from the first Precipitation [algorithm] Intercomparison Project 1 (PIP-1) and the second phase of the GPCP (Global Precipitation Climatology Project) algorithm Intercomparison Project (AIP/2) are analyzed, as well as data from individual validation efforts. Although the algorithm is physically based and uses all SSM/I channels, it is computationally much less demanding than cloud/radiative transfer model-based inversion algorithms published else-where.With 9 Figures     

Water vapor flux at the sea surface

Methods and instrumentation for determining the rate of evaporation at the sea surface are reviewed. At experimental sites free of local influences, there is a consensus that the evaporation coefficient in neutral conditions C _EN = 1.2 × 10^–3 at low and moderate wind speeds. Combining this with Businger-Dyer flux-gradient formulas, a parameterization scheme is proposed. Evaporation of spray droplets from breaking waves is expected to cause C _EN to increase at high wind speeds, but no direct observations of this are found. Recently it has become possible to estimate water vapor flux in tropical regions from satellite data, opening the possiblity of studying large-scale evaporative events as a function of both time and space.Visiting scholar, Department of Atmospheric Sciences AK-40, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, U.S.A. (until June, 1989).