Retrieved temperature and humidity profiles from the AERI during MC3E

 
Poster PDF

Author

David D. Turner — NOAA- Global Systems Laboratory

Category

Atmospheric State & Surface

Description

Four atmospheric emitted radiance interferometers (AERIs) were deployed at the SGP site close to the Central Facility to provide profiles of water vapor and temperature at high temporal resolution in the inner domain of the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E). The typical spacing between the AERI systems was on the order of 15–20 km. Profiles were retrieved using an optimal estimation-based physical retrieval, thereby providing a full error covariance matrix for the solution, which reveals how the uncertainties at different levels in both temperature and humidity are correlated with each other. The influence of other trace gases on the retrieval was examined. The utility of these observations to investigate the role of small-scale horizontal inhomogeneities is examined using a couple of case studies, including a case on 29 May where a thermodynamic frontal boundary stalled directly over the domain before propagating northward as a warm front.