EOS Validation Program

Institution: University of Alabama in Huntsville
                    Research Institute RI-E47
                    301 Sparkman Drive
                    Huntsville, AL 35899
Phone: (256) 961-7825
E-mail: mike@nsstc.uah.edu

Michael Gunson, JPL
Fredrick Irion, JPL

February 2003
April 2004

We propose to assess the accuracy of the EOS/AQUA/AIRS ozone retrievals by comparison to accepted standards of measurements through a well-constructed, sequential approach. By close interaction with the AIRS algorithm team, we will quantify and minimize the precision and bias of the ozone measurements. Through interaction with the global modeling community, we will identify the areas of significant agreement and disagreement between our understanding and our measurements of atmospheric ozone.

In the first year, we will assess the total ozone column measurements with Dobson measurements in the most benign atmospheric conditions. Then, with dedicated ozonesonde launches at the Southern Great Plains ARM/CART site, in conjunction with the AIRS intensive validation campaign, we will focus sharply on the accuracy of the ozone retrievals over more difficult conditions including partly cloudy scenes, day/night differences, and difficult viewing geometry.

In the second year, we will introduce additional standard correlative data (Umkehr, TOMS, SAGE, and lidar) to assess the precision and accuracy of the tropospheric and stratospheric columns and extend the domain of comparison in both time and space. We will also focus on day/night differences using dedicated ozonesonde launches at Huntsville, AL.

In the third year, we will investigate the accuracy of AIRS to measure Stratospheric/Tropospheric exchange morphology and convective boundary layer diurnal differences. We will also place the AIRS measurements into the context of derived tropospheric ozone fields and of global 3-d chemical transport models to assess our understanding of tropospheric ozone morphology.

This comprehensive plan will result in a well quantified assessment of the AIRS ozone measurements in the troposphere and stratosphere over a wide variety of conditions, times, and places. We will also place these measurements into the context of regional and global ozone morphology.