NCEP Radiative Transfer Model Status
Paul van Delst
CIMSS at NOAA/NCEP/EMC
Abstract:
The radiative transfer model (RTM) used in the NCEP GDAS system to
estimate satellite channel radiances has been totally re-written in
Fortran-90. The main goal of this effort was to provide an easily
maintainable framework for future extensions (e.g. preparing for AIRS)
and improvements to both the transmittance model algorithm (OPTRAN) and
the radiative transfer module itself. In addition the software "refactoring"
allowed for more robust tests of the numerical stability of the code across
a number of different platforms. Some initial changes to the RTM include
addition of the microwave cosmic background, using a diffusivity
approximation for the downwelling thermal IR, and the implementation of
a simple method to estimate the direct solar contribution for shortwave
IR channels. The direction of future efforts will also be discussed.