Tropospheric Moisture Retrievals from HIRS, MODIS, and VIIRS plus CrIS
Presentation 1530-1600. Tropospheric moisture data records derived from HIRS and MODIS are compared from 2003 to 2013 and from VIIRS plus CrIS fusion and MODIS for one year 2017. Total Precipitable Water (TPW) and Upper Tropospheric Precipitable Water (UTPW or UTH) are derived using infrared spectral bands in CO2 and H2O absorption bands (fusion with CrIS has recently added these bands to VIIRS) plus IR window bands. Retrieval of TPW and UTPW uses a statistical regression algorithm performed using clear sky radiances (and brightness temperatures) measured over land and ocean for both day and night. TPW and UTH seasonal cycles of all three observing systems are found to be in synchronization with zonal mean values in good agreement. Combining HIRS, MODIS, and VIIRS+CrIS offers a moisture record that will eventually span more than sixty years.