Improvement of Nucaps Ozone Retrieval and Validation with Averaging Kernel Analysis

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS) retrieves atmospheric temperature, water vapor, and trace gases profiles from hyperspectral infrared sounding and microwave instruments aboard Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites, and the Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (IASI) aboard the Meteorological Operational Satellite Program (Metop) satellites. Among all enhancement of the recently released NUCAPS V3.1, a new ozone climatology, a new carbon dioxide climatology, and averaging kernel matrix output are important updates. The comparison between NUCAPS retrieved ozone and ECMWF analysis on 12 focus days in 12 months indicates that the global ozone retrievals are improved in all seasons, especially over Antarctic region during spring to summer transition time. The diagnostic study using averaging kernel analysis shows that NUCAPS retrieved ozone profiles have good agreement with ozonesonde measurements.