Validation of AIRS V6 Near Surface Air Temperature Over Ocean and Corresponding Sea Surface Temperature

Abstract:

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Version 6 (V6) with combined infrared and microwave (IR+MW) retrieval of near surface air temperature over ocean (NSAT) and sea surface skin temperature (SST) are compared to a network of moored buoys from the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean/Triangle Trans-Ocean Buoy Network (TAO/TRITON), and the Pilot Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA), to determine accuracy and precision. AIRS IR+MW retrieval of SST and NSAT is influenced by the presence of thick clouds and this study documents its effects and the impact of the cloud cleared radiances on the retrieval. The first guess to the IR+MW retrieval, based on a neural network using most of the AIRS infrared and AMSU-A microwave spectrum, is able to get within range of buoy measurements and AIRS physical retrieval improves upon the first guess solution when cloud coverage is limited.