Open AccessValidation of v1.022 mesospheric water vapor observed by the Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment instrument on the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere satellite
Author(s) -
Rong Pingping,
Russell James M.,
Gordley Larry L.,
Hervig Mark E.,
Deaver Lance,
Bernath Peter F.,
Walker Kaley A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2010jd014269
Subject(s) - mesosphere , aeronomy , microwave limb sounder , occultation , atmospheric sciences , mesopause , mixing ratio , environmental science , water vapor , southern hemisphere , atmosphere (unit) , geology , stratosphere , physics , meteorology , climatology , astronomy
Water vapor measured by the Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment (SOFIE) instrument on the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere satellite has been validated in the vertical range 45–95 km. Precision estimates for SOFIE v1.022 H 2 O are ∼0.2%–2.5% up to 80 km and degrade to ∼20% at ∼90 km. The SOFIE total systematic error from the retrieval analysis remains at ∼3%–4% throughout the lower to middle mesosphere and increases from ∼9% at 85 km to ∼16% at 95 km. Comparisons with Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment‐Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE‐FTS) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) H 2 O show excellent agreement (0%–2%) up to 80 km in the Northern Hemisphere with rare exceptions. Percentage differences above ∼85 km increase to ∼20% or worse due largely to the low H 2 O volume mixing ratios in the upper mesosphere. For the Southern Hemisphere SOFIE is consistently biased low by 10%–20% relative to both ACE‐FTS and MLS H 2 O. Slopes of SOFIE daily mean H 2 O isopleths on an altitude versus time cross section are used as an indicator of upwelling air motion. In the lower to middle mesosphere, the slope is the largest from mid‐May to mid‐June (maximum of ∼1.5 cm/s), and then in July and August, it is reduced significantly. Both SOFIE and MLS daily mean H 2 O volume mixing ratios at the polar mesospheric cloud height increase rapidly from ∼2.0 to ∼5.0 ppmv prior to the solstice and then approach a near‐constant but slightly increasing level (6.0–6.5 ppmv) throughout the season.