Evaluation of laser heterodyne radiometry for numerical weather prediction applications

Abstract

This article reports the results of a preliminary mission study to assess the potential of space‐borne laser heterodyne radiometry (LHR) for the remote sensing of temperature for assimilation in a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. The LHR instruments are low cost and small in size, lending themselves to a wide variety of satellite platforms. The impact of different configurations of an idealized LHR instrument is assessed against the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), via single‐column linear information content analysis, using inputs consistent with the background errors of the Met Office 4D‐Var assimilation system. Multiplexed configurations give promising results, in particular for sounding of upper‐atmospheric temperatures.