Radiosonde Match Time Series

Radiosonde match statistics are obtained by comparing, where possible, the satellite derived wind estimate with a measurement from a collocated radiosonde. In practice, the radiosonde data from the surface to 100 mb are interpolated to pressure levels which are no more than 20 mb apart; interpolation is linear in log p for temperature and linear in p for wind components. The satellite observation is subsequently compared with each level of the interpolated profile and a "penalty function" is computed to find the level of best fit. Collocation within 1.351 degrees latitude and longitude is required for a valid comparison. Moreover, it is required that an actual measured wind (from the radiosonde) be within 50 mb of the level of best fit. If either of these conditions is exceeded, the match is rejected.

• GOES Infrared Winds
• GOES Water Vapor Winds
• GOES Visible Winds
• GOES Sounder Water Vapor Winds (Band 10)
• GOES Sounder Water Vapor Winds (Band 11)
• GOES Short Wave IR Winds

GFS Analysis Match Time Series

Analysis match statistics are computed by comparing the satellite derived wind with a colocated value from the GFS analysis. A 3-D interpolation is performed to calculate the analysis wind value at the location of the satellite derived estimate.

• GOES Infrared Winds
• GOES Water Vapor Winds
• GOES Visible Winds
• GOES Sounder Water Vapor Winds (Band 10)
• GOES Sounder Water Vapor Winds (Band 11)

NOAA Profiler Match Time Series

NOAA profiler match statistics are computed by comparing the satellite derived wind with a colocated value taken from the NOAA Profiler Network (NPN). The NPN provides hourly vertical wind profile data at 35 Doppler Radar sites located in 18 central US states and Alaska. More information on the NPN, as well as data displays, can be found here.

• GOES-East IR, WV and Visible Winds