Topic: The Impact of NOAA-18 MHS Anomaly on the MIRS Products

Date/Time Issued: November 16, 2018, 1650Z

Product(s) or Data Impacted: MiRS NOAA-18 products

Date/Time of Initial Impact: October 21, 2018, 0830Z

Date/Time of Initial Impact: TBD

Length of Event: TBD

Details/Specifics of Change:
Started around 0830 UTC 21 October 2018, the NOAA-18 MHS data had dropped out due to the instrument issue, which causes a significant degradation to the MIRS NOAA-18 products, especially rain rate and moisture profile. A detailed quality impact assessment has been performed by the MiRS science team, and here are the recommendations based on the study:

1) Temperature profiles, land surface temperature are minimally affected, and the quality of the products still meet the operational requirement. The products can be used as before.

2) TPW, CLW, Sea Ice Concentration are degraded, but to a smaller extent. The products might be used with caution.

3) Water vapor profiles, Rain Rate, Snowfall Rate, Snow Cover and other hydrometeors are significantly impacted. The products should not be used.

4) Land surface emissivity is slightly affected in the AMSUA frequencies, but can likely be used as before. The emissivity values at the MHS frequencies should not be used or used with caution.

Given the degradation observed, if the instrument will not come back soon, we might temporally stop the distribution of the MiRS NOAA-18 products till the MHS instrument resumes its normal status.

Contact Information for Further Information: ESPCOperations@noaa.govat 301 817-3880

Web Site(s) for applicable information: http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/atmosphere/mirs

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