HR: 0800h
AN: GC21A-0147    [Abstracts]
TI: Spatial Trend Patterns in Atmospheric Temperature Observations of the Microwave Sounding Unit
AU: * Zou, C
EM: Cheng-Zhi.Zou@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NESDIS/ORA, 5200 Auth Rd., Camp Springs, MD 20746,
AB: Although NOAA Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) observations have been extensively used to study the global atmospheric temperature changes, spatial patterns of the MSU trend have not been fully explored. This is partly because intersatellite biases are geographic location dependent, so latitude/longitude-dependent merging techniques are required to investigate the MSU regional trend patterns. We have recently developed an intercalibration procedure based on the simultaneous nadir overpass (SNO) matchups. This intercalibration can effectively eliminate intersatellite biases and their spatial distribution. Based on this method, we have recalibrated MSU channels 2, 3, and 4 for NOAA 10, 11, 12, and 14. This presentation will provide a comprehensive report on the calibration results for these satellites. Those results include the intersatellite bias structure and statistics, bias removal techniques, and long-term trend patterns for the MSU channels 2, 3, and 4, which respectively represent the bulk layer temperature of the mid-troposphere (T2), tropopause (T3), and lower- stratosphere (T4). We will present the regional trend values and the uncertainties associated with the trends. Regions are divided into tropics, mid-latitudes, Arctic, and Antarctic. For instance, the tropical mid-troposphere (channel 4 adjusted channel 2 trend) is found to be warming at a rate of 0.280 K/decade for the period of 1987- 2006. We will discuss effects of other factors such as diurnal cycle correction and limb-correction on the trend. We also compare these trend patterns with other studies.
DE: 1616 Climate variability (1635, 3305, 3309, 4215, 4513)
DE: 1637 Regional climate change
DE: 1640 Remote sensing (1855)
DE: 1694 Instruments and techniques
SC: Global Environmental Change [GC]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting