Precision and radiosonde validation of satellite gridpoint temperature anomalies. I - MSU channel 2. II - A tropospheric retrieval and trends during 1979-90

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of Climate; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1992)005<0847:PARVOS>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:7162670

Spencer, R W; Christy, J R ^[1]

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1. NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL (United States) Alabama, University, Huntsville (United States)

Monthly 2.5-deg gridpoint anomalies in the Tiros-N satellite series Microwave Sounding Unit channel 2 brightness temperatures during 1979-1988 are evaluated with multiple satellites and radiosonde data for their climate temperature monitoring capability. The MSU anomalies are computed about a 10-yr mean annual cycle at each gridpoint, with the MSUs intercalibrated to a common arbitrary level. The monthly gridpoint anomaly agreement between concurrently operating satellites reveals single-satellite precision generally better than 0.07 C in the tropics and better than 0.15 C at higher latitudes. The removal from channel 2 of the temperature influence above the 30-kPa level is addressed, providing a sharper and thus potentially more useful weighting function for monitoring lower tropospheric temperatures. 9 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7162670
• Journal Information: Journal of Climate; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Climate; (United States) Vol. 5:8; ISSN JLCLEL; ISSN 0894-8755
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290301 -- Energy Planning &amp; Policy-- Environment
Health
&amp; Safety-- Regional &amp; Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DATA ANALYSIS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
SATELLITES
TEMPERATURE MONITORING
TROPOSPHERE