Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere

About: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Snow & Data assimilation. The organization has 332 authors who have published 997 publications receiving 38835 citations. The organization is also known as: CIRA.

On the effect of soil wetness on thermal stress

Abstract: A coupled atmosphere-soil model was applied in order to evaluate the impact of soil wetness on human stress in the absence of horizontal gradients in moisture. The results are illustrated and discussed with consideration to various combinations of wind speed and lower level atmospheric moisture during daylight hours with summer weather conditions. A thermal index composed of the air temperature and wet-bulb temperature does not show major changes as a function of variation of soil mosture. When wind speed and solar radiation are also considered, in a more detailed thermal index, relatively wet soil is associated with the optimal thermal comfort.

The MIRS GPM precipitation retrieval

Abstract: The Microwave Integrated Retrieval System (MIRS) is an operational system at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) providing satellite derived information since 2007. The system has been extended to retrieve variables based on the Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GPM/GMI) instrument observed radiances. The inversion algorithm is a One-Dimensional Variational (1DVAR) scheme and is consistent across sensors and uses an iterative approach in which a solution is sought that best fits the observed satellite radiances, subject to other constraints. The Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) is used as the forward and Jacobian operator to simulate the radiances at each iteration prior to fitting the measurements to within the noise level. This paper describes the MiRS retrieval algorithm, its extension to GPM/GMI, and validation against several reference data sets, including National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Stage IV precipitation analyses, as well as with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Results indicate that MiRS can retrieve details of the atmospheric water vapor, hydrometeors and surface precipitation in an accurate and self-consistent manner.

Radiometric Comparison of 1.6-μm CO2Absorption Band ofGreenhouse Gases Observing Satellite(GOSAT) TANSO-FTS withSuomi-NPPVIIRS SWIR Band

Abstract: An atmospheric CO2 increase has become a progressively important global concern in recent past decades. Since the 1950s, the Keeling curve has documented the atmospheric CO2 increase as well as seasonal variations, which also intrigued scientists to develop new methods for global CO2 measurements from satellites. One of the dedicated satellite missions is the CO2 measurement in the 1.6-μm shortwave infrared spectra by the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) Thermal and Near Infrared Sensor for Carbon Observations–Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS) instrument. While this spectral region has unique advantages in detecting lower-trophosphere CO2, there are many challenges because it relies on accurate measurements of reflected solar radiance from Earth’s surface. Therefore, the calibration of the TANSO-FTS CO2 has a direct impact on the CO2 retrievals and its long-term trends. Coincidently, the Suomi-NPP Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) 1.6-μm band spectrally overlap...

Analysis of fifty year Gas Flaring Emissions from oil/gas companies in Africa

Abstract: Flaring is a process during which waste gases are burned in an open atmosphere. The quantification of gas flaring emissions represents a major scientific concern due to its magnitude and related uncertainties. In global/regional emission inventories, this source, though releasing large amounts of pollutants in the atmosphere, is still poorly quantified if not missing. It can represent the main emission source of gaseous compounds and particles in some areas, as observed during the AMMA project in the Gulf of Guinea. Our study focuses on Africa, and includes Nigeria, which is one of the largest natural oil and gas reserve in the world. Africa is an important gas flaring area, since technologies for the exploitation of this energy source and the reduction of flaring activities have been only recently implemented. We have developed an emission inventory for gases and particles from flaring in Africa. We have first compiled the few published available dataset of fuel consumption from flaring. The spatial distribution of CO2 and black carbon (BC) emissions from gas flaring in 2011 is estimated using a methodology based on field reports and remote sensing (DMSP satellite data). Our results point out to the importance of flaring activities into the regional anthropogenic emissions in Africa over the period 1960-2011. Finally, the contribution of flaring to total anthropogenic emission can be large and needs to be accurately quantified.

Shape-preserving and mass-conserving semi-Lagrangian approaches

Abstract: In this chapter we will introduce different techniques that have been developed to ensure that the semi-Lagrangian scheme can preserve the shape of the body being advected, to avoid the Gibbs phenomena of the under- and overshoots. We shall introduce the cascade interpolation methods between Eulerian and Lagrangian grids, along with different finite volume approaches, that enable the conservation of mass either locally of globally. We will also introduce SLICE which is a finite volume based scheme that utilizes the cascade interpolation. The chapter is finished by introducing the Vlasov family of nonlinear PDEs and the HWENO approach to solve them.