ESTIMATION OF THE EARTHS RADIATION BUDGET FROM NARROW-BAND NOAA SATELLITE-OBSERVATIONS

Operational satellites provide global data from multispectral narrowband radiometric scanners such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) found on the polar-orbiting NOAA series of satellites. For many years, the narrowband channels have been utilized to estimate the components of the Earth's radiation budget (ERB). Broadband instruments specially designed for ERB measurements have been available only on experimental satellites. Unfortunately, these instruments have been very intermittent in their coverage, with large gap's in time occurring between the failure of an instrument and the launch of its successor. AVHRR instruments, on the other hand, have been present on every operational NOAA satellite since 1979, making it possible for continuous coverage. The evolution of the ERB products generated from the AVHRR over this period will be discussed, as well as the expectations and plans for the future. This will include a brief tutorial on the generation of the current products, a discussion on anticipated improvements to the algorithms, the use of the HIRS in estimating the outgoing longwave radiation flux, and the development of new products that will enhance our ability to monitor climate and global change.