AIRS

AIRS Data Are Improving Weather Forecasts

The Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation, established to accelerate the assimilation of satellite observations into operational weather forecast models, announced that significant improvement in forecast skill has been achieved with the assimilation of AIRS data.

When compared to the rate of forecast improvement over the last ten years, the improvements made in global forecast capability in a relatively short time are quite significant. A 6 hour improvement in the six-day forecast normally takes several years to achieve.

News Release:

NASA/NOAA Announce Major Weather Forecasting Advancement

'The forecast improvement accomplishment alone makes the AIRS project well worth the American taxpayers' investment'

  1. - Dr. Mary Cleave, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate

'The AIRS instrument has provided the most significant increase in forecast improvement in this time range of any other single instrument."

- Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, US Navy (Ret.), NOAA Administrator