Ozone Profile Retrievals From the Cross-Track Infrared Sounder.

This paper presents an algorithm for the retrieval of ozone profiles from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite using a nonlinear optimal estimation method. The issue of channel selection is discussed. Based on a sensitivity analysis, we selected a spectral range of 990–1070 cm−1 for the ozone profile retrievals. Compared with ERA-Interim ozone profiles and eigenvector regression method profiles, the ozone climatology profile is better able to construct the a priori state. The retrieved CrIS profiles are in good agreement with smoothed high-vertical-resolution ozonesonde profiles. An analysis of the information content of the CrIS retrievals demonstrates that the CrIS measurements can provide useful information for capturing the spatial and temporal variations in ozone and are insensitive to ozone below 400 hPa. An error analysis revealed that smoothing error represents the main error source for the retrieved CrIS ozone profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]