Total Column Water Vapour (TCWV) global distribution is a key parameter for climate analysis and weather monitoring. We have designed a new algorithm that enables an accurate and precise estimate of Total Column Water Vapour (TCWV) using the Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) channels of all the Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) series of instruments. The new algorithm, called Advanced Infra-Red Water Vapour Estimator (AIRWAVE) has been developed in the frame of the ESA contract 'ATSR Long Term Stability (ALTS)' in the optic of a better exploitation of the (A)ATSR instruments and can be easily adapted to work with the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) on board the Copernicus Sentinel 3. The retrieval method does not require any tuning or adjustments to independent water vapour datasets and is based on: 1) calculations from a radiative transfer model that was specifically developed to simulate ATSR radiances, 2) informations on instrumental parameters, 3) sea surface spectral emissivity. AIRWAVE exploits the simultaneous use of forward and nadir measurements in the Thermal Infra-Red channels on ocean cloudfree scenes to produce day-time and night-time TCWVs. In order to process the whole ATSR missions (1991-2012), the AIRWAVE prototype processor (AIRWAVE-PP) has been designed and integrated in the ESA GRID environment (GPOD). AIRWAVE-PP decodes each (A)ATSR Level 1 orbit file selecting sea and cloud-free radiances, retrieves TCWV at two different spatial resolution (1x1 km2 and 0.25°x0.25°) and exports the results into NetCDF-CF files and PNG quick-look plots. The physical derivation of the AIRWAVE retrieval method and its implementation will be presented. Preliminary results of the inter-comparisons between ATSR and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) coincident TCWVs will be shown.
Total Column Water Vapour from Along Track Scanning Radiometer Series: The design and application of the Advanced Infra-Red Water Vapour Estimator (AIRWAVE) tool
Castelli Elisa;Papandrea Enzo;Dinelli Bianca Maria;
2015
Abstract
Total Column Water Vapour (TCWV) global distribution is a key parameter for climate analysis and weather monitoring. We have designed a new algorithm that enables an accurate and precise estimate of Total Column Water Vapour (TCWV) using the Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) channels of all the Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) series of instruments. The new algorithm, called Advanced Infra-Red Water Vapour Estimator (AIRWAVE) has been developed in the frame of the ESA contract 'ATSR Long Term Stability (ALTS)' in the optic of a better exploitation of the (A)ATSR instruments and can be easily adapted to work with the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) on board the Copernicus Sentinel 3. The retrieval method does not require any tuning or adjustments to independent water vapour datasets and is based on: 1) calculations from a radiative transfer model that was specifically developed to simulate ATSR radiances, 2) informations on instrumental parameters, 3) sea surface spectral emissivity. AIRWAVE exploits the simultaneous use of forward and nadir measurements in the Thermal Infra-Red channels on ocean cloudfree scenes to produce day-time and night-time TCWVs. In order to process the whole ATSR missions (1991-2012), the AIRWAVE prototype processor (AIRWAVE-PP) has been designed and integrated in the ESA GRID environment (GPOD). AIRWAVE-PP decodes each (A)ATSR Level 1 orbit file selecting sea and cloud-free radiances, retrieves TCWV at two different spatial resolution (1x1 km2 and 0.25°x0.25°) and exports the results into NetCDF-CF files and PNG quick-look plots. The physical derivation of the AIRWAVE retrieval method and its implementation will be presented. Preliminary results of the inter-comparisons between ATSR and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) coincident TCWVs will be shown.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
