GEOS Constituent Data Assimilation Beyond Aura MLS: Assimilating NASA
SAGE III/ISS profiles of stratospheric water vapor for continued climate
record
Abstract
Stratospheric water vapor (SWV) is a greenhouse gas that has a
significant, yet uncertain, impact on the Earth’s climate through its
radiative effect and feedback. As the climate changes, it is thus
critical to monitor and understand changes in SWV. NASA’s Microwave Limb
Sounding (MLS) aboard the Aura satellite has observed SWV since 2004 but
will soon reach end of life. The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas
Experiment (SAGE) missions observe SWV as well, with the SAGE III
instrument operating on the International Space Station (ISS) since
2017. We use the constituent data assimilation capabilities of NASA’s
Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) to demonstrate that the up to 30
SAGE III/ISS profiles each day provide a useful constraint on SWV over
the observed midlatitudes and tropics. We conclude that assimilating
SAGE III/ISS SWV into GEOS can continue the SWV climate data record of
Aura MLS.