Comparison of layer thickness as observed by Nimbus E microwave spectrometer and by radiosonde
Atmospheric layer thicknesses observed by the microwave spectrometer of the Nimbus E satellite are compared with radiosonde-derived thicknesses for selected short periods. An average 45 m rms discrepancy is found for the 100-50 kPa layer, and several sources of this discrepancy are quantified in the following way. Correlation coefficients between pairs of spectrometer observations and between pairs of radiosonde observations are each extrapolated to zero separation distance to provide measures of instrument noise. Microwave spectrometer noise is found to be 16 m rms and radiosonde noise 23 m rms. Estimates are also made of those portions of the total discrepancy which are due to different resolution of the sensors (about 15 m rms) and real spatial and temporal variation of the atmosphere between observations (about 17 m rms).