The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) was launched in early May 2002. This new high-spectral resolution sounder is the first of a new generation of temperature and humidity sounders for numerical weather prediction and climate change studies. In addition, AIRS should be able to detect several minor gases, including ozone, carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide. This paper presents a preliminary comparison between observed AIRS spectra and spectra computed from the ECMWF (European Center for Medium Range Forecasting) model fields. A key component of this comparison is the selection of clear fields of view, which we limited to night views over ocean, allowing the use of the relatively well known sea surface emissivity.

Date Published: 18 April 2003
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 4882, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere VII, (18 April 2003); doi: 10.1117/12.463019

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4882:
Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere VII
Klaus P. Schaefer; Olga Lado-Bordowsky; Adolfo Comeron; Richard H. Picard, Editor(s)