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Title: Quantifying the Accuracy and Uncertainty of Diurnal Thermodynamic Profiles and Convection Indices Derived from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer

Abstract

Abstract While radiosondes have provided atmospheric scientists an accurate high-vertical-resolution profile of the troposphere for decades, they are unable to provide high-temporal-resolution observations without significant recurring expenses. Remote sensing technology, however, has the ability to monitor the evolution of the atmosphere in unprecedented detail. One particularly promising tool is the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI), a passive ground-based infrared radiometer. Through a physical retrieval, the AERI can retrieve the vertical profile of temperature and humidity at a temporal resolution on the order of minutes. The synthesis of these two instruments may provide an improved diagnosis of the processes occurring in the atmosphere. This study provides a better understanding of the capabilities of the AERI in environments supportive of deep, moist convection. Using 3-hourly radiosonde launches and thermodynamic profiles retrieved from collocated AERIs, this study evaluates the accuracy of AERI-derived profiles over the diurnal cycle by analyzing AERI profiles in both the convective and stable boundary layers. Monte Carlo sampling is used to calculate the distribution of convection indices and compare the impact of measurement errors from each instrument platform on indices. This study indicates that the nonintegrated indices (e.g., lifted index) derived from AERI retrievals are more accurate than integratedmore » indices (e.g., CAPE). While the AERI retrieval’s vertical resolution can inhibit precise diagnoses of capping inversions, the high-temporal-resolution nature of the AERI profiles overall helps in detecting rapid temporal changes in stability.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. School of Meteorology, and Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
  2. Space Science and Engineering Center, and Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
  3. NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado
  4. Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, and NOAA/Storm Prediction Center, Norman, Oklahoma
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
OSTI Identifier:
1400343
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1541810
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0014375
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology Journal Volume: 56 Journal Issue: 10; Journal ID: ISSN 1558-8424
Publisher:
American Meteorological Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; meteorology & atmospheric sciences; North America; profilers; atmospheric; radiosonde observations; soundings; mesoscale forecasting; operational forecasting

Citation Formats

Blumberg, W. G., Wagner, T. J., Turner, D. D., and Correia, Jr., J. Quantifying the Accuracy and Uncertainty of Diurnal Thermodynamic Profiles and Convection Indices Derived from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0036.1.
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Blumberg, W. G., Wagner, T. J., Turner, D. D., & Correia, Jr., J. Quantifying the Accuracy and Uncertainty of Diurnal Thermodynamic Profiles and Convection Indices Derived from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer. United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0036.1
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Blumberg, W. G., Wagner, T. J., Turner, D. D., and Correia, Jr., J. Thu . "Quantifying the Accuracy and Uncertainty of Diurnal Thermodynamic Profiles and Convection Indices Derived from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer". United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0036.1.
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@article{osti_1400343,
title = {Quantifying the Accuracy and Uncertainty of Diurnal Thermodynamic Profiles and Convection Indices Derived from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer},
author = {Blumberg, W. G. and Wagner, T. J. and Turner, D. D. and Correia, Jr., J.},
abstractNote = {Abstract While radiosondes have provided atmospheric scientists an accurate high-vertical-resolution profile of the troposphere for decades, they are unable to provide high-temporal-resolution observations without significant recurring expenses. Remote sensing technology, however, has the ability to monitor the evolution of the atmosphere in unprecedented detail. One particularly promising tool is the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI), a passive ground-based infrared radiometer. Through a physical retrieval, the AERI can retrieve the vertical profile of temperature and humidity at a temporal resolution on the order of minutes. The synthesis of these two instruments may provide an improved diagnosis of the processes occurring in the atmosphere. This study provides a better understanding of the capabilities of the AERI in environments supportive of deep, moist convection. Using 3-hourly radiosonde launches and thermodynamic profiles retrieved from collocated AERIs, this study evaluates the accuracy of AERI-derived profiles over the diurnal cycle by analyzing AERI profiles in both the convective and stable boundary layers. Monte Carlo sampling is used to calculate the distribution of convection indices and compare the impact of measurement errors from each instrument platform on indices. This study indicates that the nonintegrated indices (e.g., lifted index) derived from AERI retrievals are more accurate than integrated indices (e.g., CAPE). While the AERI retrieval’s vertical resolution can inhibit precise diagnoses of capping inversions, the high-temporal-resolution nature of the AERI profiles overall helps in detecting rapid temporal changes in stability.},
doi = {10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0036.1},
journal = {Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology},
number = 10,
volume = 56,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0036.1
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Cited by: 15 works
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Figures / Tables:

FIG. 1 FIG. 1: Locations of the five ARM AERI observing facilities used during IHOP_2002.
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Works referencing / citing this record:

Considerations for temperature sensor placement on rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems
journal, January 2018

  • Greene, Brian R.; Segales, Antonio R.; Waugh, Sean
  • Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, Vol. 11, Issue 10
  • DOI: 10.5194/amt-11-5519-2018
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