Decadal Variability in AIRS Version 6 Retrievals

The NASA Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) satellite instrument has provided near-continuous infrared spectral observations of the Earth since September 2002. Retrieved quantities from AIRS include detailed information about profiles of temperature and water vapor, the abundance of trace gases (ozone, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide), and surface and cloud properties. A recently updated retrieval algorithm Version 6 (V6) shows improved performance, including more realistic trace gas variability and boundary layer structure over land, and more detailed cloud properties. V6 data processing is now complete and the entire 11-year record is publicly available. We describe the long-term characteristics of this data set, including temperature and water vapor in the upper troposphere, where moist processes are expected to modulate climate feedbacks.