Validation of Suomi NPP OMPS Limb Profiler Ozone Measurements

The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Limb Profiler onboard the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership satellite (SNPP) makes measurements of limb-scattered solar radiances over Ultraviolet and Visible wavelengths. These measurements are used in retrieval algorithms to create high vertical resolution ozone profiles, helping monitor the evolution of the atmospheric ozone layer. NOAA is in the process of implementing these algorithms to make near-real-time versions of these products. The main objective of this project is to generate estimates of the accuracy and precision of the OMPS Limb products by analysis of matchup comparisons with similar products from the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder (EOS Aura MLS). The studies investigated the sources of errors, and classified them with respect to height, geographic location, and atmospheric and observation conditions. In addition, this project included working with the algorithm developers in an attempt to develop corrections and adjustments. Collocation and zonal mean comparisons were made and statistics were gathered on both a daily and monthly basis encompassing the entire OMPS data record. This validation effort of the OMPS-LP data will be used to help validate data from the Stratosphere Aerosol and Gas Experiment III on the International Space Station (SAGE III ISS) and will also be used in conjunction with the NOAA Total Ozone from Assimilation of Stratosphere and Troposphere (TOAST) product to develop a new a-priori for the NOAA Unique Combined Atmosphere Processing System (NUCAPS) ozone product. The current NUCAPS ozone product uses a combination of Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) data for the troposphere and a tropopause based climatology derived from ozonesonde data for the stratosphere a-priori. The latest version of TOAST uses a combination of both CrIS and OMPS-LP data. We will further develop the newest version of TOAST and incorporate it into the NUCAPS system as a new a-priori, in hopes of creating a better global ozone product.