METEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND WATER-VAPOR RETRIEVALSFROM THE GROUND-BASED ATMOSPHERIC EMITTED RADIANCE INTERFEROMETER (AERI)

The Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) is a well-calib rated ground-based instrument that measures high-resolution atmospheri c emitted radiances from the atmosphere. The spectral resolution of th e instrument is better than one wavenumber between 3 and 18 mu m withi n the infrared spectrum. The AERI instrument detects vertical and temp oral changes of temperature and water vapor in the planetary boundary layer. Excellent agreement between radiosonde and AERI retrievals for a 6-month sample of coincident profiles is presented in this paper. In addition, a statistical seasonal analysis of retrieval and radiosonde differences is discussed. High temporal and moderate vertical resolut ion in the lowest 3 km of the atmosphere allows mete orologically impo rtant mesoscale features to be detected. AERI participation in the Dep artment of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program at the Sou thern Great Plains Cloud and Radiation Testbed (SGP CART) has allowed development of a robust operational atmospheric temperature and water vapor retrieval algorithm in a dynamic meteorological environment near Lament, Oklahoma. Operating in a continuous mode, AERI temperature an d water vapor retrievals obtained through inversion of the infrared ra diative transfer equation provide profiles of atmospheric state every 10 min to 3 km in clear sky or below cloud base. Boundary layer evolut ion, cold or warm frontal passages, drylines, and thunderstorm outflow boundaries are all recorded, offering important meteorological inform ation. With important vertical thermodynamic information between radio sonde locations and launch times, AERI retrievals provide data for pla netary boundary layer research, mesoscale model initialization, verifi cation, and nowcasting. This paper discusses retrieval performance at the SGP CART site, as well as interesting meteorological case studies captured by AERI profiles. The AERI system represents an important new capability for operational weather- and airport-monitoring applicatio ns.