Imager and sounder data fusion to generate sounder retrieval products at an improved spatial and temporal resolution

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) imaging instrument on the polar-orbiting Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-20 satellite platforms has infrared window bands but no carbon dioxide and water vapor absorption bands; the latter are essential for accurately deriving atmospheric variables (such as temperature and moisture profiles, cloud properties). An approach for fusing a high spatial resolution imager (e.g., VIIRS) and a high spectral resolution sounder [e.g., Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)] offers the opportunity to construct new spectral band radiances (radiance fusion) as well as sounder retrieval products (product fusion) at high spatial resolution. Furthermore, temperature and humidity profiles can also be provided at a high temporal resolution when geostationary imager [Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI)] data are used in combination with polar orbiting sounder (CrIS) data in a fusion approach. Promising results from VIIRS/CrIS and ABI/CrIS fusion are presented.