A fast method for the retrieval of integrated longwave and shortwave top-of-atmosphere upwelling irradiances from MSG/SEVIRI (RRUMS)

Abstract

A new Rapid Retrieval of Upwelling irradiances from MSG/SEVIRI (RRUMS) is presented. It has been developed to observe the top-of-atmosphere irradiances of small scale and rapidly changing features that are not sufficiently resolved by specific Earth radiation budget sensors. Our retrieval takes advantage of the spatial and temporal resolution of MSG/SEVIRI and provides outgoing longwave and reflected shortwave radiation only by means of a combination of SEVIRI channels. The longwave retrieval is based on a simple linear combination of brightness temperatures from the SEVIRI infrared channels. The shortwave retrieval is based on a neural network that requires as input the visible and near-infrared SEVIRI channels. Both LW and SW algorithms have been validated by comparing their results with CERES and GERB irradiance observations. While being less accurate than their dedicated counterparts, the SEVIRI-based methods have two major advantages compared to CERES and GERB: their higher spatial resolution and the better temporal resolution. With our retrievals it is possible to observe the radiative effect of small-scale features such as cumulus clouds, cirrus clouds, or aircraft contrails. The spatial resolution of SEVIRI is 3 km × 3 km in the sub-satellite point, remarkably better than that of CERES (20 km) or GERB (45 km). The temporal resolution is 15 min (5 min in the Rapid-Scan mode), the same as GERB, but significantly better than that of CERES which, being on board of a polar orbiting satellite, has a temporal resolution as low as 2 overpasses per day. © 2013 Author(s).