HIRS-AMTS satellite sounding system test - Vertical resolving power
Abstract
The present investigation is concerned with the vertical resolving power of satellite borne temperature sounding instruments. Specifically, information is presented on the capabilities of the High Resolution Infra-red Radiation Sounder (HIRS) and a proposed sounding instrument called the Advanced Meteorological Temperature Sounder (AMTS). Two quite different methods for assessing the vertical resolving power of satellite sounders are discussed, taking into account the theoretical method of Conrath (1972), and an independent criterion for vertical resolving power which is based on actual retrievals of signal structure in the temperature field. Some discrepancies are found between theory and retrieval tests. The results indicate that the theoretical Backus and Gilbert spread function does not represent the shortest resolvable length scale for a retrieval system.
- Publication:
-
4th Conference on Atmospheric Radiation
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981atra.conf....1T
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Sounding;
- Atmospheric Temperature;
- Resolution;
- Satellite Sounding;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Temperature Measurement;
- Infrared Radiometers;
- Temperature Distribution;
- Vertical Distribution;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation