AIRS

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Interannual variability of midtropospheric CO2 from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder

Jiang et al. (2010) use AIRS data to examine the interannual variability of CO2 and find significant correlations between AIRS mid-tropospheric CO2 and large-scale atmospheric dynamics. During El Niño events, mid-tropospheric CO2 is enhanced over the central Pacific Ocean but reduced over the western Pacific Ocean, consistent with changes in the Walker circulation. The variation of AIRS CO2 in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere is closely related to the strength of the Northern Hemispheric annular mode. These results contribute to a better understanding of the influence of large scale dynamics on tracer distributions. - view paper

Citation: Jiang, X., M. T. Chahine, E. T. Olsen, L. L. Chen, and Y. L. Yung, 2010: Interannual variability of midtropospheric CO2 from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L13801, doi:10.1029/2010GL042823

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Tropical mid-tropospheric CO2 variability driven by the Madden-Julian oscillation

Li et al. (2010) find that large-scale variations in tropical CO2, determined from AIRS retrievals, are modulated by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The correlation structure between CO2, rainfall, and vertical velocity indicate that positive (negative) anomalies in CO2 arise due to upward (downward) large-scale vertical motions in the lower troposphere associated with the MJO. These findings can help to elucidate how various processes can organize, transport, and mix CO2, and they provide a robustness test for coupled carbon-climate models. - view paper

Citation: Li, K. F., B. Tian, D. E. Waliser, and Y. L. Yung, 2010: Tropical mid-tropospheric CO2 variability driven by the Madden-Julian oscillation, PNAS, 107 (45), 19171- 19175, doi:10.1073/pnas.1008222107.

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The infrared spectral signature of volcanic ash determined from high-spectral resolution satellite measurements

Gangale et al. (2010) utilize the AIRS infrared spectral resolution to describe a variety of dust types, including ash from different volcanoes. - view paper

Citation: Gangale, G., A. J. Prata, and L. Clarisse, 2010: The infrared spectral signature of volcanic ash determined from high-spectral resolution satellite measurements, Rem. Sens. Environ., 114(2), 414-425.

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AIRS impact on the analysis and forecast track of tropical cyclone Nargis in a global data assimilation and forecasting system

Reale et al. (2009) examined the case of tropical cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar in May 2008. In a control run assimilating conventional and operational satellite data, but without AIRS data, the cyclone dissipates and fails to make landfall. But in the run additionally assimilating quality controlled AIRS temperature retrievals, the cyclone makes landfall and does so within 50 km of the correct location in 5 of the 7 daily forecasts for the 7 days preceding landfall. - view paper

Citation: Reale, O., W. K. Lau, J. Susskind, E. Brin, E. Liu, L. P. Riishojgaard, M. Fuentes, and R. Rosenberg, 2009: AIRS impact on the analysis and forecast track of tropical cyclone Nargis in a global data assimilation and forecasting system, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L06812, doi:10.1029/2008GL037122.

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Atmospheric moisture content associated with surface air temperatures over northern Eurasia

In a study of the relationship between temperature and water vapor over Eurasia, Ye and Fetzer (2010) find that the relative humidity remains relatively constant under a range of cold temperatures but drops rapidly with higher temperatures. - view paper

Citation: Ye, H., and E. J. Fetzer, 2010: Atmospheric moisture content associated with surface air temperatures over northern Eurasia, Internat. J. Climatol., 30(10), 1463- 1471.

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Analysis of the influence of Saharan air layer on tropical cyclone intensity using AIRS/Aqua data

Shu and Wu (2009) find that the Saharan Air Layer contributes to hurricane formation but suppresses hurricane intensification. - view paper

Citation: Shu, S., and L. Wu, 2009: Analysis of the influence of Saharan air layer on tropical cyclone intensity using AIRS/Aqua data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L09809, doi:10.1029/2009GL037634.

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Antarctic NAT PSC belt of June 2003: Observational validation of the mountain wave seeding hypothesis

Eckermann et al. (2009) use AIRS data to identify cases where gravity waves in the lee of the Antarctic Peninsula lead to formation of polar stratospheric clouds. - view paper

Citation: Eckermann, S. D., L. Hoffmann, M. Hopfner, D. L. Wu, and M. J. Alexander, 2009: Antarctic NAT PSC belt of June 2003: Observational validation of the mountain wave seeding hypothesis, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L02807, doi:10.1029/2008GL036629.

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Extreme snowfall events linked to atmospheric rivers and surface air temperature via satellite measurements

In examining heavy snowfall events in the Sierra Nevada of California, Guan et al. (2010) find that AIRS/AMSU near-surface temperature retrievals produce much higher correlations with these events than do near-surface temperatures from reanalyses. This suggests that incorporation of AIRS/AMSU observations could improve forecasts of some of the most important precipitation events in the western U.S. - view paper

Citation: Guan, B., N. P. Molotch, D. E. Waliser, E. J. Fetzer, and P. J. Neiman (2010), Extreme snowfall events linked to atmospheric rivers and surface air temperature via satellite measurements, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L20401, doi:10.1029/2010GL044696.

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Cloud influence on and response to seasonal Arctic sea ice loss

Kay and Gettelman (2009) use AIRS/AMSU temperature and water vapor, along with other data records, to describe atmospheric conditions contributing to the stunning decrease of Arctic sea ice in 2007, leading to a record Arctic sea ice minimum. - view paper

Citation: Kay, J. E., and A. Gettelman, 2009: Cloud influence on and response to seasonal Arctic sea ice loss, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D18204, doi:10.1029/2009JD011773.

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Atmospheric remote sensing to detect effects of temperature inversions on sputum cell counts in airway diseases

Wallace et al. (2010) correlate AIRS-observed temperature inversion (and concomitant high pollution levels) to lung disease in Hamilton. - view paper

Citation: Wallace, J., P. Nair, and P. Kanaroglou (2010), Atmospheric remote sensing to detect effects of temperature inversions on sputum cell counts in airway diseases, Environmental Research, 110(6), 624-632.