Climate Suite Study for the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Internal Concepts Study

Our recommendations to NPOESS for the sensors it should adopt to meet threshold requirements for global monitoring of ozone and, to some extent, of aerosols and of atmospheric temperature, pressure, and water vapor content are summarized in this report. The degree to which these sensors fulfill other NPOESS requirements than ozone is also summarized. The number of sensors that should be in the constellation is discussed in terms of desired reliability, continuity of coverage, and the ability to cross-calibrate successive sensors. Our recommendations for specific ozone measurement requirements, IORD item 4.1.6.2.28, are given. We make the case that the monitoring of three minor constituents in the upper atmosphere (N20, ClO or ClONO2, and HNO3) should be added to the list of NPOESS requirements because of their importance to long-term ozone studies and the small additional cost required (ozone sensors are already designed to measure them). Specific measurement requirements, which should be regarded as supplementary to the ozone requirement, are given here. The necessity of using two types of sensors, nadir-viewers and limb-scanners, for atmospheric studies is discussed.