Intercomparison of Total Atmospheric Precipitable Water Vapor Retrieval Products during the 2009 and 2010 CAPABLE Summer Intensives

In support of NASA's GEO-CAPE mission and Air Quality Applied Sciences, the Chemistry and Physics Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (CAPABLE) site at NASA Langley Research Center has been established in coordination with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) to assess the relationship between high temporal resolution measurements from space and continuous in situ surface observations. During the 2009 and 2010 CAPABLE summer intensives, three methods for determining total atmospheric precipitable water vapor were utilized. Continuous total column measurements of water vapor were provided using a Pandora spectrometer, the DOE/NSTec Atmospheric Sounder Spectrometer for Infrared Spectral Technology (ASSIST) operated by the Hampton University and the University of Wisconsin Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI). Continuous meteorological parameters were measured on a 5m tower and rawinsondes were launched intermittently throughout both measurement periods. We present preliminary results of the intercomparison of total precipitable water vapor from the three instrumental methods and compare with estimated values from dew point temperature and satellite overpass data. Results from this study will have applications to satellite validation and Pandora retrieval algorithm development. Disclaimer: Although this work was reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.