Temperature sounding from satellites

Vertical temperature sounding of the atmosphere can be calculated from satellite radiance measurements. The theory relating satellite radiance measurements to temperatures in the atmosphere for both cloudless and cloudy conditions is presented. The accuracy of vertical temperature soundings from satellites in comparison with radiosonde measurements is judged on the basis of two years of operational experience. RMS temperature "errors" varied from 1.1K to 3K for "clear" conditions, and from 1.6K to 3.5K for conditions during which high clouds were judged to be present. Sounding instruments already flown on Nimbus satellites and instruments to be flown in the near future are reviewed. Remaining problems which require further work to improve the accuracy of remote vertical temperature soundings are discussed. 1972 NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) Library Public domain 2286