Improvements in AIRS Temperature and Water Vapor Retrievals Above Clouds

Recently available Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Version 6 (AIRS V6) data products show significant improvements in water vapor and temperature profiles retrieved immediately above clouds tops compared to earlier Version 5 (V5) data. The near-cloud AIRS water vapor and temperature uncertainties are characterized by comparisons with ECMWF reanalyses, and radiosonde and GPS radio occultation observations. Storm systems have been problematic for AIRS V5, with underlying clouds resulting in low temperature and excess water vapor biases. These biases are significantly reduced in V6 data.