High-Spectral- and High-Temporal-Resolution Infrared Measurements from Geostationary Orbit

Abstract

The first of the next-generation series of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) is scheduled for launch in 2015. The new series of GOES will not have an infrared (IR) sounder dedicated to acquiring high-vertical-resolution atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles. High-spectral-resolution sensors have a much greater vertical-resolving power of temperature, moisture, and trace gases than low-spectral-resolution sensors. Because of coarse vertical resolution and limited accuracy in the legacy sounding products from the current GOES sounders, placing a high-spectral-resolution IR sounder with high temporal resolution in the geostationary orbit can provide nearly time-continuous three-dimensional moisture and wind profiles. This would allow substantial improvements in monitoring the mesoscale environment for severe weather forecasting and other applications. Application areas include nowcasting (and short-term forecasts) and numerical weather prediction, which require products such as atmospheric moisture and temperature profiles as well as derived parameters, clear-sky radiances, vertical profiles of atmospheric motion vectors, sea surface temperature, cloud-top properties, and surface properties. Other application areas include trace gases/air quality, dust detection and characterization, climate, and calibration. This paper provides new analysis that further documents the available information regarding the anticipated improvements and their benefits.