The use of Nimbus 4 radiance and radio-sonde data in the construction of stratospheric contour charts

✍ Scribed by C. J. M. Aanensen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1973
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 776 KB
• Volume: 99
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0035-9009
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.49709942207

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The construction of 10, 3 and 1 mb contour charts using thicknesses derived from Nimbus 4 selective chopper radiometer (SCR) measurements is described. Examples of such charts during the 1972 stratospheric warming period are given. Heights and deduced gradient winds obtained from these charts were compared with radio‐sonde and rocket observations. At 10 mb the average heights using satellite measurements exceeded those from radio‐sondes by 5 dam in a ‘quiet’ period and by 14 dam in the warming period, the greatest difference occurring in the area of warming. Rocket data showed the average height difference increased upwards to some 40 dam at 1 mb. Consideration of derived gradient winds supported the impression that the shape of contours is better than the spacing. Though there is evidence of increased error on the occasion of major warmings it is concluded that the method described produces realistic charts.