Project Title A Merged Atmospheric Water Data Set

Project Title: A Merged Atmospheric Water Data Set from the A-Train Principal Investigator: Eric Fetzer, JPL Science issue: Better characterize water and energy cycle atmospheric reservoirs with satellite observations. Approach: Create a merged, multi-sensor record of atmospheric temperature, water vapor and cloud properties. Satellite-based data: Water vapor, temperature and cloud A-Train observations from AMSR-E, AIRS, MLS, MODIS and Cloud. Sat delivered to CREW server. Models: None currently. Analyses: Compare and reconcile Level 2 observations; describe long term variations at octadal and monthly time resolution Hovmoller Studyof. Period: May 2002 to current. diagram monthly mean AIRS T (left) and q at 500 h. Pa in the 4 S-4 N band over six years Specific progress made towards IP: • Delivered merged AMSR-E-AIRS-MLS water vapor, temperature and cloud data sets. • Intercomparing Level 2 satellite observations to quantify inter-instrument errors and sampling. • Examining time series of reservoirs from satellite data sets. • Using Cloud. Sat properties to characterize AIRS and MLS water vapor. • Coordinating with ACCESS task (PI Hook Hua) to apply computing technology to NEWS data sets. Figure at lower left shows monthly mean quantities averaged in 4 x 5 degree latitudelongitude grids NEWS linkages: Pull: Data sources are external to NEWS team. Push: Upload data sets to CREW server for earlier collaborations with Schlosser. Collaborate: Working closely with Hua ACCESS project; Lessonsanticipate learned further collaborations with other NEWS projects. Merging water vapor observations What worked: is relatively straightforward; understanding sampling is not. What did not work: Reconciling cloud properties from multiple sensors remains a problem. Main challenge is in retrieval (outside NEWS project), not merging. Updated: 17 July 2009 Suggestions: Always welcome guidance on