Evaluation of OMPS LP algorithm with SAGE III proxy data

The UV/VIS Limb Profile Ozone Algorithm is designed to retrieve the vertical ozone profile from OMPS sensor data with an accuracy of 10% between 15 km and 60 km. Retrievals utilize scene radiances normalized to the radiances from a single Earth tangent height from 290 nm to 1000 nm to maintain this accuracy over the full altitude range. While the basic retrieval approach has been used successfully with existing limb scatter data sets, implementation specifics differ between instruments. In particular, the OMPS limb sensor design has complexities, such as multiple images, that have created challenges in the algorithm design. Consequently, testing the algorithm with realistic data is of utmost importance to demonstrating its retrieval capabilities. We have begun tests of the OMPS algorithm using SAGE III limb scatter radiances as input. SAGE III was chosen because its spectral and spatial resolution exceed that of OMPS, and can be degraded to appear OMPS-like. With the proxy data we have evaluated the performance of the OMPS limb algorithm under different atmospheric conditions (aerosol, clouds, and surface albedo) and analyzed the influence of some error sources on the accuracy and percision of the EDR production. Examples of error investigations include: spectral calibration, wavelength-dependent and -independent radiometric calibration, stray light, aerosol corrections, cloud top or surface pressure, altitude registration, and pressure and temperature profiles. Based upon our findings, we present options to improve ozone profile retrieval of the LP algorithm.