STORM: sounding and tracking observatory for regional meteorology to launch in 2016

Gail Bingham; Scott Jensen; John Elwell; Joel Cardon; David Crain; Hung-Lung (Allen) Huang; William L. Smith; Hank E. Revercomb; Ron Huppi

doi:10.1117/12.2030601

19 September 2013 STORM: sounding and tracking observatory for regional meteorology to launch in 2016

Gail Bingham, Scott Jensen, John Elwell, Joel Cardon, David Crain, Hung-Lung (Allen) Huang, William L. Smith, Hank E. Revercomb, Ron Huppi

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Proceedings Volume 8867, Infrared Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XXI; 88670X (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2030601
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ultra-spectral sounders (USS) in low earth orbit have significantly improved weather forecast accuracy in recent years, and their impact could be significantly improved with reduced revisit times. The GeoMetWatch, Inc.¹ Sounding and Tracking Observatory for Regional Meteorology (STORM_TM) program is designed to place a constellation of six USS units in spaced geostationary (GEO) positions around the earth. From GEO, the repeat time for a specific weather feature can be reduced to minutes, and the vertical temperature, water vapor and wind profiles can provide detailed warnings not available by any other means. The STORM_TM sensor, a derivative of the Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) EDU that was designed and built for NASA by Utah State University (USU) and rigorously tested in 2006, will be launched on a commercial geostationary satellite in late 2016. It combines advanced technologies to provide improved performance and reliability over the original EDU. From GEO the USS can observe surface thermal properties and atmospheric weather and chemistry variables in four dimensions. This paper provides an overview of the STORM_TM instrument and the measurement concept. STORM_TM’s USS will provide data of the same quality as the current LEO satellite sounders (AIRS, CrIS, and IASI) but with the ability to track storm development with soundings and images at any desired rate. Wind profiles obtained from a time sequence of STORM_TM water vapor retrieval images will provide additional input to now casting and regional models.

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Gail Bingham, Scott Jensen, John Elwell, Joel Cardon, David Crain, Hung-Lung (Allen) Huang, William L. Smith, Hank E. Revercomb, and Ron Huppi "STORM: sounding and tracking observatory for regional meteorology to launch in 2016", Proc. SPIE 8867, Infrared Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XXI, 88670X (19 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2030601

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