FY08 GIMPAP Project Proposal Title Page (Revised 30 October 2007)

1. FY08 GIMPAP Project Proposal Title Page(Revised 30 October 2007) • Title: GOES SFOV cloudy sounding product development • Project Type: Product Development Proposal • Status: New • Duration: 2008 - 2009 • Leads: • Jun Li • Other Participants: • Zhenglong Li, Jim Nelson, Tim Schmit (collaborator), and Jaime Daniels (collaborator)

2. 2. Project Summary • GOES Sounder sounding issues to be addressed • Development of products (soundings, TPW, LI) in cloudy regions is very important for severe storm nowcasting. Currently only clear sky observations are processed. • Currently only simple regression emissivity is used in the physical retrieval, which introduces a false diurnal emissivity change and might result in additional errors in boundary layer moisture. How do we deal better with IR surface emissivity for sounding improvement? Other possible methods for handling emissivity include: pre-determined emissivity database and simultaneous physical approach. • Proposed work • We propose to develop hourly SFOV cloudy soundings by combining forecast information and GOES Sounder radiances in cloudy regions (thin or low clouds). A one-layer fast cloudy radiative transfer model will be used to account for cloud absorption and scattering. • We will study three approaches for handling surface emissivity (regression, pre-determined database and simultaneous physical algorithm). The focus will be on clear skies first, and then extended to cloudy conditions. • Expected results • Retrieval coverage will be expanded to cloudy regions. • Boundary layer moisture is expected to be improved with better handling of surface emissivity. • The new algorithms can potentially be transferred to NESDIS operations.

3. 3. Motivation/Justification • Supports NOAA Mission Goal(s): • Understand Climate Variability and Change to Enhance Society's Ability to Plan and Respond • Serve Society’s Needs for Weather and Water Information • Justification • Current operational sounding product is limited to clear skies. It is very important to have sounding and Lifted Index (LI) products in cloudy regions for severe storm nowcasting. • Current surface emissivity processing is based on regression, which introduces a false diurnal variation of emissivity. It is very important to better handle IR emissivity in the retrieval process to improve the computation of boundary layer moisture.

4. 4. Methodology • Use single-layer cloudy radiative transfer model to account for cloud absorption and scattering • Two step approach – regression followed by physical retrieval • Combine forecast information and cloudy radiances to retrieve soundings/TPW/LI when thin or low-level clouds are present • Test three methods for handling surface emissivity • Database • Regression • Simultaneous retrieval of emissivity and sounding in a physical approach

5. 5. Summary of Previous Results (see supplementary PPT) • Clear sky SFOV sounding algorithm is improved. Total Precipitable Water (TPW) is improved by 0.4 mm (rmse) over the legacy product. New algorithm and codes are ready for operational implementation. • GOES Sounder total column ozone (TCO) research product is being processed in near real time for research community. GOES TCO has a precision of approximately 4% when compared with data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). • The improved GOES Sounder LI product has shown very important nowcasting information for severe storms, while the forecast alone did not reflect this needed information. • Collaborated with EUMETSAT scientists. CIMSS improved GOES sounding algorithm was recommended to replace EUMETSAT nowcasting SAF operational algorithm (Neural Network) for SEVIRI processing. • The new algorithm software has been delivered to Rodrigo Souza of Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE, Brazil) for GOES-10 Sounder processing, as part of the GEOSS-America’s capacity building. The software works well, according to their report.

6. 6. Expected Outcomes • Soundings, TPW, LI, etc. will be provided under both clear and cloudy sky conditions. • Retrieval of boundary layer moisture will be improved. • If successful, the research can potentially be transferred and implemented within NESDIS operations.

7. 7. Major Milestones • FY08 • Develop cloudy sounding algorithm in thin and low clouds • Deal with emissivity (test three approaches) • Validate cloudy sounding algorithm against RAOB and in-situ measurements • Apply cloudy sounding and LI products to storm cases • FY09 • Improve and refine cloudy sounding algorithm • Improve and refine the handling of emissivity in clear skies • Extend handling of emissivity to cloudy regions • Implement the new algorithm into CIMSS merged processing • Readiness for transition to operational implementation

8. 8. Funding Profile (K) • Summary of leveraged funding

9. 9. Expected Purchase Items • FY07 (Overhead Included) • (150 K): STAR CIMSS Grant for 3 people (75% for Zhenglong Li, 35% for Jim Nelson, and 15% for Jun Li) from Jan 07 to Dec 07 • Data Center 5 K • Publication 4 K • Software 1 K • Travel 6 K (Two trips to DC and one trip to AMS conference) • Hardware (N/A) • Personnel 134 K • FY08 (Overhead Included) • (90 K): STAR CIMSS Grant for 3 people (40% for Zhenglong Li, 15% for Jim Nelson, and 5% for Jun Li) from Jan 08 to Dec 08 • Data Center 5 K • Publication 4 K • Software 1 K • Travel 4 K (One trip to DC and one trip to AMS conference) • Hardware (N/A) • Personnel 76 K • FY09 (Overhead Included) • (95 K): STAR CIMSS Grant for 3 people (40% for Zhenglong Li, 15% for Jim Nelson, and 5% for Jun Li) from Jan 09 to Dec 09 • Data Center 5 K • Publication 4 K • Software 1 K • Travel 4 K (One trip to DC and one trip to AMS conference) • Hardware (N/A) • Personnel 81 K