TOVSA5NH: Global Atmospheric Profiles from NOAA-11 Satellite

TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) Level 3 data from NOAA-11 provides global 3D temperature and moisture fields using a 20-channel infrared and 4-channel microwave sounder. The Path A retrieval scheme, based on a physical method by Susskind et al. (1984), produces parameters including surface temperatures, outgoing longwave radiation, cloud fraction, cloud top height, total ozone, and precipitation estimates. These geophysical parameters are generated through a 6-hour forecast-retrieval-analysis cycle that assimilates satellite retrievals with in-situ measurements like radiosondes.

Use Cases

• Validating and initializing General Circulation Models (GCMs) based on the assimilated 3D temperature and humidity fields.
• Analyzing global cloud properties and radiative forcing using derived cloud fraction and cloud top height.
• Studying atmospheric composition and ozone distribution via the total ozone overburden parameter.
• Investigating surface energy exchange and climate trends using land/sea surface temperature and outgoing longwave radiation.
• Assessing hydrological cycles and precipitation patterns from the included precipitation estimates.

Strengths

• Derives multiple atmospheric parameters from a sophisticated physical retrieval method (Susskind et al., 1984) using 24 combined sensor channels.
• Assimilates satellite data with in-situ measurements like radiosondes within a 6-hour synoptic cycle, likely improving accuracy.
• Provides global 3D fields, offering comprehensive spatial coverage for atmospheric analysis.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided across platforms.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date between sources (1994 vs. 2026), casting doubt on data freshness and maintenance.
• The retrieval method is dependent on a hydrodynamic model and a priori data, which may introduce model-specific biases.

Provenance

Source

Satellite Data Utilization Office, Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/GSFC.

Collection Method

Data from NOAA-11's HIRS2 and MSU sensors processed using the Path A physical retrieval scheme.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:30:37.777883

Geography

Global