AERI + GOES Retrievals at the SGP ARM Site: SCM Data Assimilation and Convective Forecasting Utility

Four additional Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) systems have been deployed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains Cloud And Radiation Testbed (SGP CART) site boundary facilities. The AERI + GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) temperature and water vapor retrieval product is now operational at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) allowing continuous monitoring of atmospheric thermodynamics at each of the CART site facilities (Lamont, Vici, Purcell, Morris, and Hillsboro) at a ten-minute temporal resolution. These unique temperature and water vapor profile measurements along with collocated profiler winds can be incorporated into single-column models (SCMs) and will be tested this year to supplement radiosonde launches. Time contiguous retrievals will be shown and discussed indicating data applications such as data assimilation and feasibility for nowcasting severe thunderstorm development.