Jin, Jianjun

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Constraining Middle Atmospheric Moisture in GEOS-5 
Using EOS-MLS Observations 
Jianjun Jin*,#, Steven Pawson#, Kris Warganⱡ,#, Meta Sienkiewiczⱡ,#, Larry Coyⱡ,#   
*GESTAR, USRA; #GMAO, GSFC, NASA; ⱡSSAI  
Background   
• Middle atmospheric water vapor plays an important role in climate and 
atmospheric chemistry.  
• The Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications 
(MERRA) reanalysis did not assimilate any moisture observations in the 
middle atmosphere.  
• Future GEOS-5 analyses will assimilate middle atmospheric moisture from 
Aura/MLS and other research satellites. 
Aura/Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS)  
• MLS is one of four instruments on Aura satellite, launched in July 2004. Aura 
is a part of polar-orbiting NASA “A-train” Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) 
constellation. MLS measures thermal emission at spectral bands centered near 
118, 190, 240, 640 and 2250 GHz using a limb viewing geometry.   
• MLS science data operations began 13 August 2004, and its products include 
temperature, moisture, cloud ice, ozone, and other chemical species between 
the upper troposphere and the mesosphere, with the top observation altitude 
varying with products (Livesey, et al., 2011). 
References 
Bernath, P. F., et al. (2005), Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE): Mission overview, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L15S01, 
doi:10.1029/2005GL022386. 
Livesey, N. J., et al. (2011), Version 3.3 Level 2 data quality and description document, Tech. Rep. JPL D-33509, Jet Propul. 
Lab., Pasadena, Calif. (Available from http://mls.jpl.nasa.gov.) 
Mote, P. W., et al. (1995), Seasonal variation of water vapour in the tropical lower stratosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1093-
1096. 
Rienecker, M. M., et al. (2011), MERRA - NASA's Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications. J. 
Climate, 24, 3624-3648. 
Monthly mean water vapor in GEOS-5 analysis and observed by MLS in the UTLS in Aug 2005 and Jan 2006 
Figure 4. (left) Monthly mean moisture (ppmv) in GEOS-5 analysis constrained by 
MLS observation, (middle) difference due to assimilating MLS observation in GEOS-
5, (right) MLS observation at 100 hPa, 147 hPa, and 215 hPa in Aug 2005. 
Annual moisture evolution in GEOS-5 analysis and MLS observations between May 2005 – April 2006 
Middle atmospheric moisture in GEOS-5 analysis constrained by Aura/MLS observations 
Figure 1. Monthly zonal mean moisture 
(ppmv) in GEOS-5 between 300 – 0.15 hPa 
in March 2006. MLS moisture observations 
above 215 hPa are assimilated. 
Figure 3. (left) Global mean moisture profiles in GEOS-5 and observed by space-
borne ACE-FTS (Bernath et al., 2005) and (right) differences between GEOS-5 and 
ACE-FTs. GEOS-5 data are sampled at ACE-FTS observation locations.  
• Atmospheric moisture field is improved in the mesosphere and lower stratosphere 
in GEOS-5 analysis. 
Summary  
• GEOS-5 moisture analysis is improved by including MLS moisture observations in the 
upper stratosphere and mesosphere, and in the polar lower stratosphere.  
• MLS data does not improve the moisture analysis in the tropical UTLS in current data 
assimilation system, which uses relative humidity as a control variable. 
• To improve the moisture analysis in the UTLS, it is planned to use specific humidity as 
the control variable in the assimilation. 
Figure 2. Middle atmospheric moisture 
difference (per cent, %) in GEOS-5 analyses 
due to assimilating MLS moisture observations 
in March 2006. 
100 hPa 
147 hPa 
215 hPa 
Figure 5. Same as Figure 4, but for Jan 2006. 
• The GEOS-5 analysis is more constrained by MLS observations in polar UTLS 
regions than in tropical UTLS region.. 
GEOS-5                                  Difference in GEOS-5 due to MLS obs.                       MLS obs. GEOS-5                                  Difference in GEOS-5 due to MLS obs.                       MLS obs. 
Figure 6. Annual evolution 
of water vapor (ppmv) in 
(left) GEOS-5 analysis 
constrained by MLS 
observation, and (right) in 
MLS observations between 
May 2005 – Apr 2006. 
Figure 7. Tropical (12°S – 12°N) water vapor tape recorder (Mote, et al., 1995) in (left) 
GEOS-5 analysis constrained by MLS observation, and (right) MLS observation between 
May 2004 – Apr 2006. 
100 hPa 
147 hPa 
215hPa 


Constraining Middle Atmospheric Mositure in GEOS-5 Using EOS-MLS Observations

Valparaiso University

Constraining Middle Atmospheric Moisture in GEOS-5 Using EOS-MLS Observations Jianjun Jin*,#, Steven Pawson#, Kris Warganⱡ,#, Meta Sienkiewiczⱡ,#, Larry Coyⱡ,#   *GESTAR, USRA; #GMAO, GSFC, NASA; ⱡSSAI  Background   • Middle atmospheric water vapor plays an important role in climate and atmospheric chemistry.  • The Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) reanalysis did not assimilate any moisture observations in the middle atmosphere.  • Future GEOS-5 analyses will assimilate middle atmospheric moisture from Aura/MLS and other research satellites. Aura/Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS)  • MLS is one of four instruments on Aura satellite, launched in July 2004. Aura is a part of polar-orbiting NASA “A-train” Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) constellation. MLS measures thermal emission at spectral bands centered near 118, 190, 240, 640 and 2250 GHz using a limb viewing geometry.   • MLS science data operations began 13 August 2004, and its products include temperature, moisture, cloud ice, ozone, and other chemical species between the upper troposphere and the mesosphere, with the top observation altitude varying with products (Livesey, et al., 2011). References Bernath, P. F., et al. (2005), Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE): Mission overview, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L15S01, doi:10.1029/2005GL022386. Livesey, N. J., et al. (2011), Version 3.3 Level 2 data quality and description document, Tech. Rep. JPL D-33509, Jet Propul. Lab., Pasadena, Calif. (Available from http://mls.jpl.nasa.gov.) Mote, P. W., et al. (1995), Seasonal variation of water vapour in the tropical lower stratosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1093-1096. Rienecker, M. M., et al. (2011), MERRA - NASA's Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications. J. Climate, 24, 3624-3648. Monthly mean water vapor in GEOS-5 analysis and observed by MLS in the UTLS in Aug 2005 and Jan 2006 Figure 4. (left) Monthly mean moisture (ppmv) in GEOS-5 analysis constrained by MLS observation, (middle) difference due to assimilating MLS observation in GEOS-5, (right) MLS observation at 100 hPa, 147 hPa, and 215 hPa in Aug 2005. Annual moisture evolution in GEOS-5 analysis and MLS observations between May 2005 – April 2006 Middle atmospheric moisture in GEOS-5 analysis constrained by Aura/MLS observations Figure 1. Monthly zonal mean moisture (ppmv) in GEOS-5 between 300 – 0.15 hPa in March 2006. MLS moisture observations above 215 hPa are assimilated. Figure 3. (left) Global mean moisture profiles in GEOS-5 and observed by space-borne ACE-FTS (Bernath et al., 2005) and (right) differences between GEOS-5 and ACE-FTs. GEOS-5 data are sampled at ACE-FTS observation locations.  • Atmospheric moisture field is improved in the mesosphere and lower stratosphere in GEOS-5 analysis. Summary  • GEOS-5 moisture analysis is improved by including MLS moisture observations in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere, and in the polar lower stratosphere.  • MLS data does not improve the moisture analysis in the tropical UTLS in current data assimilation system, which uses relative humidity as a control variable. • To improve the moisture analysis in the UTLS, it is planned to use specific humidity as the control variable in the assimilation. Figure 2. Middle atmospheric moisture difference (per cent, %) in GEOS-5 analyses due to assimilating MLS moisture observations in March 2006. 100 hPa 147 hPa 215 hPa Figure 5. Same as Figure 4, but for Jan 2006. • The GEOS-5 analysis is more constrained by MLS observations in polar UTLS regions than in tropical UTLS region.. GEOS-5                                  Difference in GEOS-5 due to MLS obs.                       MLS obs. GEOS-5                                  Difference in GEOS-5 due to MLS obs.                       MLS obs. Figure 6. Annual evolution of water vapor (ppmv) in (left) GEOS-5 analysis constrained by MLS observation, and (right) in MLS observations between May 2005 – Apr 2006. Figure 7. Tropical (12°S – 12°N) water vapor tape recorder (Mote, et al., 1995) in (left) GEOS-5 analysis constrained by MLS observation, and (right) MLS observation between May 2004 – Apr 2006. 100 hPa 147 hPa 215hPa 

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Constraining Middle Atmospheric Mositure in GEOS-5 Using EOS-MLS Observations

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