A practical approach for the assimilation of cloudy infrared radiances and its evaluation using airs simulated observations

Abstract

A variational estimation procedure for the simultaneous retrieval of cloud parameters and thermodynamic profiles from infrared radiances is proposed. The method is based on a cloud emissivity model which accounts for the frequency dependence of cloud absorption and scattering and possible mixed phase situations. An effective cloud top height and emissivity are assumed. Monte Carlo experiments performed in a 1D‐var assimilation context using simulated Atmospheric Infrared Radiance Sounder (AIRS) observations from 100 channels demonstrate the substantial added value, in theory, of cloudy radiance assimilation as opposed to clear‐channel assimilation. Improved temperature and humidity retrievals are obtained for a broad layer above the cloud as well as below cloud level under partial cloud cover conditions. The impact is most pronounced in broken to overcast situations involving mid‐level clouds. In these situations, the effective cloud top height and emissivity are retrieved with estimated rms errors typically lower than 30 hPa and 3%, respectively. Expected relative errors on the retrieved effective particle size are of the order of 30–50%. The methodology is directly applicable to real hyperspectral infrared data upon inclusion, for local estimation, of the cloud parameters in the Canadian 4D‐var assimilation system.     

Atmospheric profile retrieval with AIRS data and validation at the ARM CART site

The physical retrieval algorithm of atmospheric temperature and moisture distribution from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder （AIRS） radiances is presented. The retrieval algorithm is applied to AIRS clear-sky radiance measurements. The algorithm employs a statistical retrieval followed by a subsequent nonlinear physical retrieval. The regression coefficients for the statistical retrieval are derived from a dataset of global radiosonde observations （RAOBs） comprising atmospheric temperature, moisture, and ozone profiles. Evaluation of the retrieved profiles is performed by a comparison with RAOBs from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement （ARM） Program Cloud And Radiation Testbed （CART） in Oklahoma, U. S. A.. Comparisons show that the physically-based AIRS retrievals agree with the RAOBs from the ARM CART site with a Root Mean Square Error （RMSE） of 1K on average for temperature profiles above 850 hPa, and approximately 10% on average for relative humidity profiles. With its improved spectral resolution, AIRS depicts more detailed structure than the current Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite （GOES） sounder when comparing AIRS sounding retrievals with the operational GOES sounding products.     

The Capability of Atmospheric Profile Retrieval from Satellite High Resolution Infrared Sounder Radiances

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A Study on Retrieving Atmospheric Profiles from EOS/AIRS Observations

1. IntroductionThe development of global climate and weathermodels requires accurate monitoring of atmospherictemperature and moisture profiles, as well as the con-tents of trace gases and aerosols. It is quite difficultto monitor continuously these parameters on a globalscale.Until recently. AIRS (Atmospheric InfraredSounder) offers a new opportunity to improve globalmonitoring of temperature, moisture, and ozone distri-butions and changes therein. The high spectral resolu-tion (v/Δv ? 12…     

利用AIRS卫星资料反演大气廓线Ⅰ.特征向量统计反演法

引进美国威斯康星大学的IMAPP（International MODIS／AIRS Preprocessing Package）软件包，介绍了利用高光谱分辨率大气红外探测器AIRS（Atmospheric Infrared Sounder）观测辐射值，用特征向量统计法反演大气温度、湿度等垂直廓线的算法，采用亮度温度分类和扫描角分类回归后，减小了反演误差。并将其应用到中国地区，通过与无线电探空值及欧洲中期天气预报中心ECMWF（European Center of Medium-range Weather Forecasts）客观分析场的比较，结果表明：该方法所获得的温度、水汽反演结果与探空观测及ECMWF大气廓线分布一致，且AIRS因其高光谱分辨率（即高垂直空间分辨率）显示了精细的大气结构。     

Optimal Use of High Resolution Infrared Sounder Channels in Atmospheric Prof

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A validation of the multivariate and minimum residual method for cloud retrieval using radiance from multiple satellites

The Multivariate and Minimum Residual(MMR) cloud detection and retrieval algorithm, previously developed and tested on simulated observations and Advanced Infrared Sounder radiance, was explored and validated using various radiances from multiple sensors. For validation, the cloud retrievals were compared to independent cloud products from Cloud Sat, MODIS(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), and GOES(Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites). We found good spatial agreement within a single instrument, although the cloud fraction on each pixel was estimated independently. The retrieved cloud properties showed good agreement using radiances from multiple satellites, especially for the vertically integrated cloud mask. The accuracy of the MMR scheme in detecting mid-level clouds was found to be higher than for higher and lower clouds. The accuracy in retrieving cloud top pressures and cloud profiles increased with more channels from observations. For observations with fewer channels, the MMR solution was an "overly smoothed" estimation of the true vertical profile, starting from a uniform clear guess. Additionally, the retrieval algorithm showed some meaningful skill in simulating the cloudy radiance as a linear observation operator, discriminating between numerical weather prediction(NWP) error and cloud effects. The retrieval scheme was also found to be robust when different radiative transfer models were used. The potential application of the MMR algorithm in NWP with multiple radiances is also discussed.     

Estimating the retrievability of temperature profiles from satellite infrared measurements

A method is developed to assess retrievability, namely the retrieval potential for atmospheric temperature profiles, from satellite infrared measurements in clear-sky conditions. This technique is based upon generalized linear inverse theory and empirical orthogonal function analysis. Utilizing the NCEP global temperature reanalysis data in January and July from 1999 to 2003, the retrievabilities obtained with the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder （AIRS） and the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/3 （HIRS/3） sounding channel data are derived respectively for each standard pressure level on a global scale. As an incidental result of this study, the optimum truncation number in the method of generalized linear inverse is deduced too. The results show that the retrievabilities of temperature obtained with the two datasets are similar in spatial distribution and seasonal change characteristics. As for the vertical distribution, the retrievabilities are low in the upper and lower atmosphere, and high between 400 hPa and 850 hPa. For the geographical distribution, the retrievabilities are low in the low-latitude oceanic regions and in some regions in Antarctica, and relatively high in mid-high latitudes and continental regions. Compared with the HIRS/3 data, the retrievability obtained with the AIRS data can be improved by an amount between 0.15 and 0.40.     

The representation of tropical upper tropospheric water in EC Earth V2

Tropical upper tropospheric humidity, clouds, and ice water content, as well as outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), are evaluated in the climate model EC Earth with the aid of satellite retrievals. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and Microwave Limb Sounder together provide good coverage of relative humidity. EC Earth’s relative humidity is in fair agreement with these observations. CloudSat and CALIPSO data are combined to provide cloud fractions estimates throughout the altitude region considered (500–100?hPa). EC Earth is found to overestimate the degree of cloud cover above 200?hPa and underestimate it below. Precipitating and non-precipitating EC Earth ice definitions are combined to form a complete ice water content. EC Earth’s ice water content is below the uncertainty range of CloudSat above 250?hPa, but can be twice as high as CloudSat’s estimate in the melting layer. CERES data show that the model underestimates the impact of clouds on OLR, on average with about 9?W?m^?2. Regionally, EC Earth’s outgoing longwave radiation can be ～20?W?m^?2 higher than the observation. A comparison to ERA-Interim provides further perspectives on the model’s performance. Limitations of the satellite observations are emphasised and their uncertainties are, throughout, considered in the analysis. Evaluating multiple model variables in parallel is a more ambitious approach than is customary.     

基于加密探空资料的上海不同云天下AIRS/Aqua相对湿度廓线反演精度研究

目前云对卫星相对湿度廓线反演精度的影响研究大多是针对云量,对其他云属性的影响研究尚少,云高也是影响卫星相对湿度廓线反演精度的重要因素。利用上海宝山站L波段(1型)加密探空资料,分析了上海地区7—9月不同质量控制标识、云量和云顶高度条件下大气红外探测器AIRS/Aqua (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder)相对湿度廓线的反演精度,以期为今后开展AIRS等卫星资料的同化研究提供科学依据。结果表明：（1）AIRS相对湿度廓线反演误差随着云量的增加而逐渐增大,并且随着气压值的升高,少云与多云时的均方根误差(Root Mean Squared Error, RMSE)之差有逐渐增大的趋势;（2）云顶高度越高,AIRS相对湿度廓线反演精度越差,云顶以上湿度廓线反演精度更高,而云顶以下高度的反演误差较大;（3）高云且多云时,AIRS相对湿度廓线的反演精度最差,850 hPa处,AIRS相对湿度反演数据与探空资料绝对误差的下限达到了-63.51%;(4)虽然质量控制标识为0时,AIRS湿度廓线在对流层范围内的反演精度仍达不到无线电探空的水平,但是相对于质量控制标识1时,反演精度...     

Validation of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Retrieval Products over China and Their Application in Numerical Mode

The atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS) instrument onboard Aqua Satellite is a high spectral resolution infrared sounder. In recent years, AIRS has gradually become the primary method of atmospheric vertical observations. To examine the validation of AIRS retrieval products (V3.0) over China, the AIRS surface air temperature retrievals were compared with the ground observations obtained from 540 meteorological stations in July 2004 and January 2005, respectively. The sources of errors were considerably discussed. Based on the error analysis, the AIRS retrieved surface air temperature products were systemically corrected. Moreover, the AIRS temperature and humidity profile retrievals were compared with T213 numerical forecasting products. Because T213 forecasting products are not the actual atmospheric states,to further verify the validation, the AIRS temperature and humidity profile products were assimilated into the MM5 model through the analysis nudging. In this paper, the case on February 14, 2005 in North China was simulated in detail. Then, we investigated the effects of AIRS retrievals on snowfall, humidity field,vertical velocity field, divergence field, and cloud microphysical processes. The major results are: (1) the errors of AIRS retrieved surface air temperature products are largely systematic deviations, for which the influences of terrain altitude and surface types are the major reasons; (2) the differences between the AIRS atmospheric profile retrievals and T213 numerical prediction products in temperature are generally less than 2 K, the differences in relative humidity are generally less than 25%; and (3) the AIRS temperature and humidity retrieval products can adjust the model initial field, and thus can improve the capacity of snowfall simulation to some extent.     

青藏高原大气甲烷浓度时空分布变化特征

利用瓦里关大气本底站甲烷观测数据对美国Aqua卫星的AIRS观测结果进行对比分析,并分析研究了2003~2012年青藏高原对流层大气甲烷的时空分布特征,结果表明:1)AIRS观测结果与近地面观测资料变化趋势一致,存在显著的正相关关系,突变时间比较一致,可以用于青藏高原区域的甲烷浓度特征分析。2)青藏高原对流层甲烷浓度在空间分布上存在显著的西北—东南走向的低值带及其南北侧存在4个固定的高值中心,分别位于阿里、那曲、山南和玉树。3)青藏高原甲烷浓度呈现显著随高度而降低的趋势,年平均甲烷浓度分别为1.810ppm(1 ppm=10-6)、1.797 ppm和1.781 ppm。在对流层中层和中上层,甲烷浓度基本呈现低值带最低、南北侧均高的山谷型分布特征。在对流层层顶,以低值带为分界线,呈现明显的南高北低特征。4)青藏高原甲烷浓度随时间呈缓慢上升趋势,平均速度为0.0018 ppm/a,夏季上升最快,秋季上升最慢。5)青藏高原甲烷存在明显的单峰型季节变化特征,夏秋季高,冬春季低,与东部地区冬、夏双峰型特征不同,随着高度上升季节变化更为明显。     

Validation of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Retrieval Products over China and Their Application in Numerical Model

The atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS) instrument onboard Aqua Satellite is a high spectral resolution infrared sounder. In recent years, AIRS has gradually become the primary method of atmospheric vertical observations. To examine the validation of AIRS retrieval products (V3.0) over China, the AIRS surface air temperature retrievals were compared with the ground observations obtained from 540 meteorological stations in July 2004 and January 2005, respectively. The sources of errors were considerably discussed. Based on the error analysis, the AIRS retrieved surface air temperature products were systemi-cally corrected. Moreover, the AIRS temperature and humidity profile retrievals were compared with T213 numerical forecasting products. Because T213 forecasting products are not the actual atmospheric states, to further verify the validation, the AIRS temperature and humidity profile products were assimilated into the MM5 model through the analysis nudging. In this paper, the case on February 14, 2005 in North China was simulated in detail. Then, we investigated the effects of AIRS retrievals on snowfall, humidity field, vertical velocity field, divergence field, and cloud microphysical processes. The major results are: (1) the errors of AIRS retrieved surface air temperature products are largely systematic deviations, for which the influences of terrain altitude and surface types are the major reasons; (2) the differences between the AIRS atmospheric profile retrievals and T213 numerical prediction products in temperature are generally less than 2 K, the differences in relative humidity are generally less than 25%; and (3) the AIRS temperature and humidity retrieval products can adjust the model initial field, and thus can improve the capacity of snowfall simulation to some extent.     

Comparisons of Two Cloud-Detection Schemes for Infrared Radiance Observations

The cloud-detection procedure developed by McNally and Watts （MW03） was added to the Weather Research and Forecasting Data Assimilation System. To provide some guidelines for setting up cloud-detection schemes, this study compares the MW03 scheme to the Multivariate and Minimum Residual （MMR） scheme for both simulated and real Advanced Infrared Sounder （AIRS） radiances. Results show that there is a high level of consistency between the results from simulated and real AIRS data. As expected, both cloud-detection schemes perform well in finding the cloud-contaminated channels based on the channels＇ peak levels. The cloud- detection results from MW03 are sensitive to the prescribed brightness temperature innovation threshold and brightness temperature gradient threshold. When increasing the brightness temperature innovation threshold for MW03 to roughly eight times the default threshold, the two cloud-detection schemes produce consistent data rejection distributions overall for high channels. MMR generally retains more data for long-wave channels. For both cloud-detection schemes, there is a high level of consistency between the cloud-free pixels and the visible/near-IR （Vis/NIR） cloud mask.     

DRP-4DVar方法同化AIRS反演资料在一次江淮流域暴雨中的应用

利用经济省时的降维投影四维变分同化方法(DRP-4DVar),在2009年7月22～23日江淮流域的一次大暴雨过程中同化晴空条件下高光谱大气红外探测仪(AIRS)反演温度、湿度廓线,改进此次强降水过程的模拟。试验结果分析显示,同化AIRS反演的温度及湿度场后,基于四维变分同化系统的模式约束,能够改进湿度场、高度场、高低层散度场。从累积降水量偏差图及同化试验增量图可以看到,正降水量偏差对应于正湿度增量、负位势高度增量及低层负散度高层正散度增量,负降水量偏差则与之相反。同化试验较参照试验可更好地模拟出暴雨的天气形势、对暴雨的落区及强度有更好的反映。此外,从单次同化与连续同化的试验对比结果看出,连续同化试验结果较单次同化结果有进一步的改进,说明不断加入新的观测资料可以更好地模拟强降水过程。     

Impact of assimilating IASI radiance observations on forecasts of two tropical cyclones

The impact of assimilating Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) radiance observations on the analyses and forecasts of Hurricane Maria (2011) and Typhoon Megi (2010) is assessed using Weather Research and Forecasting Data Assimilation (WRFDA). A cloud-detection scheme (McNally and Watts 2003) was implemented in WRFDA for cloud contamination detection for radiances measured by high spectral resolution infrared sounders. For both Hurricane Maria and Typhoon Megi, IASI radiances with channels around 15-μm CO₂ band had consistent positive impact on the forecast skills for track, minimum sea level pressure, and maximum wind speed. For Typhoon Megi, the error reduction appeared to be more pronounced for track than for minimum sea level pressure and maximum wind. The sensitivity experiments with 6.7-μm H₂O band were also conducted. The 6.7-μm band also had some positive impact on the track and minimum sea level pressure. The improvement for maximum wind speed forecasts from the 6.7-μm band was evident, especially for the first 42 h. The 15-μm band consistently improved specific humidity forecast and we found improved temperature and horizontal wind forecast on most levels. Generally, assimilating the 6.7-μm band degraded forecasts, likely indicating the inefficiency of the current WRF model and/or data assimilation system for assimilating these channels. IASI radiance assimilation apparently improved depiction of dynamic and thermodynamic vortex structures.     

Ensemble retrieval of atmospheric temperature profiles from AIRS

ABSTRACT Satellite-based observations provide great opportunities for improving weather forecasting. Physical retrieval of atmo spheric profiles from satellite observations is sensitive to the uncertainty of the first guess and other factors. In order to improve the accuracy of the physical retrieval, an ensemble methodology was developed with an emphasis on perturbing the first guess. In the methodology, a normal probability density function （PDF） is used to select the optimal profile from the ensemble retrievals. The ensemble retrieval algorithm contains four steps： （1） regression retrieval for original first guess; （2） perturbation of the original first guess to generate new first guesses （ensemble first guesses）; （3） using the ensemble first guesses and nonlinear iterative physical retrieval to generate ensemble physical results; and （4） the final optimal profile is selected from the ensemble physical results by using PDE Temperature eigenvectors （EVs） were used to generate the pertur- bation and generate the ensemble first guess. Compared with the regular temperature profile retrievals from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder （AIRS）, the ensemble retrievals RMSE of temperature profiles selected by the PDF was reduced between 150 and 320 hPa and below 400 hPa, with a maximum improvement of 0.3 K at 400 hPa. The bias was also reduced in many layers, with a maximum improvement of 0.69 K at 460 hPa. The combined optimal （CombOpt） profile and a mean optimal （MeanOpt） profile of all ensemble physical results were improved below 150 hPa. The MeanOpt profile was better than the CombOpt profile, and was regarded as the final optimal （FinOpt） profile. This study lays the foundation for improving temperature retrievals from hyper-spectral infrared radiance measurements.     

Quality Assessment and Forecast Sensitivity of Global Remote Sensing Observations

The satellite-derived wind from cloud and moisture features of geostationary satellites is an important data source for numerical weather prediction(NWP) models. These datasets and global positioning system radio occultation(GPSRO)satellite radiances are assimilated in the four-dimensional variational atmospheric data assimilation system of the UKMO Unified Model in India. This study focuses on the importance of these data in the NWP system and their impact on short-term24-h forecasts. The quality of the wind observations is compared to the short-range forecast from the model background. The observation increments(observation minus background) are computed as the satellite-derived wind minus the model forecast with a 6-h lead time. The results show the model background has a large easterly wind component compared to satellite observations. The importance of each observation in the analysis is studied using an adjoint-based forecast sensitivity to observation method. The results show that at least around 50% of all types of satellite observations are beneficial. In terms of individual contribution, METEOSAT-7 shows a higher percentage of impact(nearly 50%), as compared to GEOS, MTSAT-2and METEOSAT-10, all of which have a less than 25% impact. In addition, the impact of GPSRO, infrared atmospheric sounding interferometer(IASI) and atmospheric infrared sounder(AIRS) data is calculated. The GPSRO observations have beneficial impacts up to 50 km. Over the Southern Hemisphere, the high spectral radiances from IASI and AIRS show a greater impact than over the Northern Hemisphere. The results in this study can be used for further improvements in the use of new and existing satellite observations.     

An Algorithm for Detecting Ice Cloud at Different Altitudes by Combining Dual CrIS Full Spectrum Resolution CO2 Channels

Using infrared sensors to detect ice clouds in different atmospheric layers is still a challenge. The different scattering and absorption properties of longwave and shortwave infrared channels can be utilized to fulfill this purpose.In this study, the release of Suomi-NPP Cross-track Infrared Sounder(Cr IS) full spectrum resolution is used to select and pair channels from longwave(～ 15 μm) and shortwave(～4.3 μm) CO_2 absorption bands under stricter conditions, so as to better detect ice clouds. Besides, the differences of the weighting function peaks and cloud insensitive level altitudes of the paired channels are both within 50 h Pa so that the variances due to atmospheric conditions can be minimized. The training data of clear sky are determined by Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite(VIIRS) cloud mask product and used to find the linear relationship between the paired longwave and shortwave CO_2 absorption channels. From the linear relationship, the so-called cloud emission and scattering index(CESI) is derived to detect ice clouds. CESI clearly captures the center and the ice cloud features of the Super Typhoon Hato located above 415 h Pa. Moreover, the CESI distributions agree with cloud top pressure from the VIIRS in both daytime and nighttime in different atmospheric layers.     

The impact of AIRS atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles on hurricane forecasts: Ike (2008) and Irene (2011)

Atmospheric Infra Red Sounder(AIRS) measurements are a valuable supplement to current observational data, especially over the oceans where conventional data are sparse. In this study, two types of AIRS-retrieved temperature and moisture profiles, the AIRS Science Team product(Sci Sup) and the single field-of-view(SFOV) research product, were evaluated with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF) analysis data over the Atlantic Ocean during Hurricane Ike(2008) and Hurricane Irene(2011). The evaluation results showed that both types of AIRS profiles agreed well with the ECMWF analysis, especially between 200 h Pa and 700 h Pa. The average standard deviation of both temperature profiles was approximately 1 K under 200 h Pa, where the mean AIRS temperature profile from the AIRS Sci Sup retrievals was slightly colder than that from the AIRS SFOV retrievals. The mean Sci Sup moisture profile was slightly drier than that from the SFOV in the mid troposphere. A series of data assimilation and forecast experiments was then conducted with the Advanced Research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF) model and its three-dimensional variational(3DVAR) data assimilation system for hurricanes Ike and Irene. The results showed an improvement in the hurricane track due to the assimilation of AIRS clear-sky temperature profiles in the hurricane environment. In terms of total precipitable water and rainfall forecasts, the hurricane moisture environment was found to be affected by the AIRS sounding assimilation.Meanwhile, improving hurricane intensity forecasts through assimilating AIRS profiles remains a challenge for further study.