Inter-comparison of AIRS temperature and relative humidity profiles with AMMA and DACCIWA radiosonde observations over West Africa

The vertical profiles of temperature and water vapour from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) have been validated across various regions of the globe as an effort to provide a substitute for radiosonde observations. But there is a paucity of inter-comparisons over West Africa where local convective processes dominate and RAOBs are limited. This study validates AIRS temperature and relative humidity profiles for selected radiosonde stations in West Africa. Radiosonde data was obtained from the AMMA and DACCIWA campaigns which spanned 2006 - 2008 and June-July 2016 respectively and offered a period of prolonged radiosonde observations in West Africa. AIRS performance was evaluated with the bias and root mean square difference (RMSD) at seven RAOB stations which were grouped into coastal and inland. Evaluation was performed on diurnal and seasonal timescales, cloud screening conditions and derived thunderstorm instability indices. At all timescales, the temperature RMSD was higher than the AIRS accuracy...