Data / Science Data Products / VAPs

TROPOE

Tropospheric Optimal Estimation Retrieval

Evaluation VAP, External VAP, Guest

The Tropospheric Optimal Estimation Retrieval value-added product (TROPoe VAP) is an enhanced version of the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer Optimal Estimation (AERIoe) VAP. Like AERIoe, the TROPoe VAP provides boundary-layer profiles of temperature and water vapor mixing ratio, as well as retrievals of liquid cloud properties. TROPoe retrieves profiles under both clear and cloudy conditions.

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To support scientists who use ground-based microwave radiometers for thermodynamic profiling, TROPoe has been updated to accept data from either infrared spectrometer (IRT) or multi-channel microwave radiometer (MWR) data, or both simultaneously. Moreover, TROPoe’s processing codes are encapsulated in a software container, simplifying the distribution and use of the retrieval system.

The algorithm can include water vapor and temperature observations from lidars, radio acoustic sounding systems, radiosondes, surface meteorological stations, and numerical weather prediction model output to further improve accuracy. The output data have a temporal resolution of five minutes.

The high temporal resolution of the retrieved temperature and humidity profiles can be used to study atmospheric boundary-layer processes, estimate boundary-layer height, and analyze their diurnal cycles. In addition, the retrieved liquid water path is valuable for cloud property studies.

Although TROPoe provides fine vertical resolution retrievals within the boundary layer, it misses some fine-scale structure and inversions because of the coarser vertical information content from infrared retrievals above the boundary layer.

A known issue with the current retrieval is that infrared retrievals can incorrectly classify ice as liquid. Currently, the forward model includes absorption and not scattering, which can lead to incorrect retrievals of non-zero liquid water path when only ice clouds are present.