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Validation of UARS Microwave Limb Sounder Temperature and Pressure MeasurementsThe accuracy and precision of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) atmospheric temperature and tangent-point pressure measurements are described. Temperatures and tangent- point pressure (atmospheric pressure at the tangent height of the field of view boresight) are retrieved from a 15-channel 63-GHz radiometer measuring O2 microwave emissions from the stratosphere and mesosphere. The Version 3 data (first public release) contains scientifically useful temperatures from 22 to 0.46 hPa. Accuracy estimates are based on instrument performance, spectroscopic uncertainty and retrieval numerics, and range from 2.1 K at 22 hPa to 4.8 K at 0.46 hPa for temperature and from 200 m (equivalent log pressure) at 10 hPa to 300 m at 0.1 hPa. Temperature accuracy is limited mainly by uncertainty in instrument characterization, and tangent-point pressure accuracy is limited mainly by the accuracy of spectroscopic parameters. Precisions are around 1 K and 100 m. Comparisons are presented among temperatures from MLS, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) stratospheric analysis and lidar stations at Table Mountain, California, Observatory of Haute Provence (OHP), France, and Goddard Spaceflight Center, Maryland. MLS temperatures tend to be 1-2 K lower than NMC and lidar, but MLS is often 5 - 10 K lower than NMC in the winter at high latitudes, especially within the northern hemisphere vortex. Winter MLS and OHP (44 deg N) lidar temperatures generally agree and tend to be lower than NMC. Problems with Version 3 MLS temperatures and tangent-point pressures are identified, but the high precision of MLS radiances will allow improvements with better algorithms planned for the future.
Document ID
19980220238
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Fishbein, E. F.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Cofield, R. E.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Froidevaux, L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Jarnot, R. F.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Lungu, T.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Read, W. G.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Shippony, Z.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Waters, J. W.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
McDermid, I. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
McGee, T. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Singh, U.
(Hughes STX, Inc. Lanham, MD United States)
Gross, M.
(Hughes STX, Inc. Lanham, MD United States)
Hauchecorne, A.
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Verrieres-Le Buisson, France)
Keckhut, P.
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Verrieres-Le Buisson, France)
Gelman, M. E.
(National Weather Service Camp Springs, MD United States)
Nagatani, R. M.
(National Weather Service Camp Springs, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 18, 2013
Publication Date
April 30, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 101
Issue: D6
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
Paper-95JD03791
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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