Abstract
Abstract. We present the results of an extensive validation program of the most recent version of ozone vertical profiles retrieved with the IMK/IAA (Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research/Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía) MIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding) research level 2 processor from version 5 spectral level 1 data. The time period covered corresponds to the reduced spectral resolution period of the MIPAS instrument, i.e., January 2005–April 2012. The comparison with satellite instruments includes all post-2005 satellite limb and occultation sensors that have measured the vertical profiles of tropospheric and stratospheric ozone: ACE-FTS, GOMOS, HALOE, HIRDLS, MLS, OSIRIS, POAM, SAGE II, SCIAMACHY, SMILES, and SMR. In addition, balloon-borne MkIV solar occultation measurements and ground-based Umkehr measurements have been included, as well as two nadir sensors: IASI and SBUV. For each reference data set, bias determination and precision assessment are performed. Better agreement with reference instruments than for the previous data version, V5R_O3_220 (Laeng et al., 2014), is found: the known high bias around the ozone vmr (volume mixing ratio) peak is significantly reduced and the vertical resolution at 35 km has been improved. The agreement with limb and solar occultation reference instruments that have a known small bias vs. ozonesondes is within 7% in the lower and middle stratosphere and 5% in the upper troposphere. Around the ozone vmr peak, the agreement with most of the satellite reference instruments is within 5%; this bias is as low as 3% for ACE-FTS, MLS, OSIRIS, POAM and SBUV.
Highlights
In order to improve the predictive quality of atmospheric models, their constraints must be well refined
Around the ozone vmr peak, the agreement with most of the satellite reference instruments is within 5 %; this bias is as low as 3 % for ACE-FTS, MLS, OSIRIS, POAM and SBUV
At the time when the analysis described in this paper was performed, no averaging kernels for individual SBUV ozone profiles were available, the comparison with SBUV was performed without taking into account the discrepancies in vertical resolutions
Summary
In order to improve the predictive quality of atmospheric models, their constraints must be well refined. In this paper we present the results of an extensive validation of vertical ozone profiles retrieved from MIPAS reduced-resolution spectra with the IMK/IAA research processor. The ozone from the MIPAS IMK/IAA processor (labeled as “KIT processor” in Laeng et al, 2014) had a peak of poor vertical resolution at 35 km and the position of the ozone vmr peak was slightly higher than in the reference instruments, causing the high bias around the ozone vmr maximum. – To compensate for the loss of information implied by dropping the AB microwindows at heights below 50 km, in this height range, three-times-more microwindows were used in the A band, see Table 1 This improved the previously poor vertical resolution around the ozone vmr maximum; Fig. 3 shows the vertical resolution of the previous version (left panel) and of the version under. No relevant ozone differences were found in response to this change
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
