Abstract
Visible-Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) moisture retrievals are compared to the National Meteorological Center Regional Analysis and Forecast System (RAFS) 12-h forecast and to 1200 UTC rawinsondes over the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico on a daily basis for nearly 1.5 years. The principal objective is to determine what information the current moisture retrievals add to that available from the RAFS and surface data. The data are examined from the climatological perspective, that is, total precipitable water over the seasons for three geographical regions, and also for synoptic applications, that is, vertical and horizontal resolution. VAS retrievals are found to be systematically too moist at higher values. The variance of the VAS soundings more closely agrees with the rawinsonde at locations around the Gulf of Mexico than the RAFS. An examination of a case (6 June 1989) over the Gulf of Mexico region comparing three layers of VAS-derived moisture to the RAFS forecast shows the former capable of outperforming the latter in both the horizontal and, to some extent, the vertical frame of reference.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
