A Retrieval Error Analysis Technique for Passive Infrared Atmospheric Sounders

Abstract : To support the design and analysis of passive infrared atmospheric sounding instruments, an analytical error analysis technique has been implemented. This technique is based on a linear approximation to the radiative transfer equation and uses a minimum variance estimation approach to atmospheric profile retrieval. As a result, once the proper matrices have been constructed an estimate of the retrieval error is computed through a single linear matrix equation. The solution vector is written with temperature and water vapor explicitly defined, thus producing the error vector for both simultaneously. Examples showing typical results are presented for a high spectral resolution sounder as well as for a lower resolution, filter-wheel type of instrument.