An Experiment in Objective Nephanalysis Using Proposed HRIR Satellite Infrared Radiation Data

Abstract

The characteristics of the proposed Nimbus-type satellite High Resolution Infrared Radiation (HRIR) scanner and the means for expressing effective radiation emittance of each spot being read as equivalent black-body temperature are briefly described. The steps in the HRIR nephanalysis experiment are then outlined. Equations for computing the temperature field at three reference heights from the NWP 3-level baroclinic history tape are derived. The most important aspects of the 7094 computer program which processes the data and computes the cloud cover charts for three mid-tropospheric levels are described. A test of the computer program, using actual data from a TIROS III orbit, shows that an operationally useful, objective nephanalysis can he prepared on a real time basis from High Resolution Infrared Radiation data to be provided by a satellite system of the proposed Nimbus type.