EVALUATING SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS OF AIRS AND CrIS FOR DATA CONTINUITY IN DROUGHT MONITORING

Droughts have both short-term and long-term effects on ecosystems, the environment, and governments in affected regions. While the long-term effects of droughts cannot be understated, early detection can mitigate short-term impacts, such as those on agriculture and vegetation. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of NASA’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) satellite for drought early detection using vapor pressure deficit (VPD), relative humidity (RH), and temperature (T) data. Building on this foundation, AIRS-based drought indicators have been delivered to the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) since 2017.

As the AIRS mission is expected to be decommissioned soon, next-generation infrared sounders, such as the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) aboard the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites, need to be evaluated to ensure the continuity of drought-relevant data products delivered to the USDM. As a preliminary step, this project investigates weekly average maps of VPD, RH, and T created from the data of these satellites. Comparisons for one week in May 2023 reveal differences in these variables between the two satellites. This analysis is used for assessing the feasibility of using CrIS for future drought monitoring programs. Ultimately, this work aims to ensure the continuity of data products critical for early drought detection.