Atmospheric Profiles Retrieval from NOAA Satellites Data

Abstract

With a conceptual introduction to temperature and moisture profile estimation through remote measurements from satellite-based sensors, the radiative transfer equation of the measurement process together with the inherent problem in its analytical solution is discussed. With the description of current sensipg systems on-board NOAA satellites, the reasons for the synergistic use of 4.3, 15 micron and 5 mm absorption bands for temperature profile estimation are discussed. With the discussions on currently practised statistical, physical, simultaneous and 3I retrieval methods, and on the critical aspects of cloud effects, an account of intercomparisons for statistical, physical (iterative) and simultaneous retrieval methods, is presented. Current trends of using pattern recognition techniques for selecting initial guess profile, 1.1 km spatial resolution data in identifying partly cloudy measurement of 17.4 km resolution sounder observation, and forthcoming totally microwave sensors have been discussed.