Assessment of Long-Term Stability in the PATMOS-x Cloud Climate Data Record

Abstract:

The Pathfinder Atmospheres Extended (PATMOS-x) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) cloud Climate Data Record (CDR) currently extends over thirty-five years. Climate applications that make use of this length, such as trend detection and resolution of cloud feedback processes rely strongly on the long-term stability of the record. Here we examine various factors that affect that stability including choice of reanalysis data set used for temperature and humidity profiles, availability of consistent set of channels throughout the record, and satellite drift. We also assess how the incorporation of High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) measurements (a CDR currently under development) affects the stability of the overall record. We will present these results with the aim of characterizing long-term stability in a way that is quantifiable.