Bias Correction for Aircraft Temperature Observation Part I: Analysis of Temperature Bias Characteristics by Comparison with Sonde Observation

In this study, the temperature bias of aircraft observation was estimated through comparison with sonde observation prior to developing the temperature bias correction method at the Korea Institute of Atmospheric Prediction Systems (KIAPS). First, we tried to compare aircraft temperature with collocated sonde observations at 0000 UTC on June 22, 2012. However, it was difficult to estimate the temperature bias due to the lack of samples and the uncertainty of the sonde position at high altitudes. Second, we attempted a background innovation comparison for sonde and aircraft using KIAPS Package for Observation Processing (KPOP). The one month averaged background innovation shows the aircraft temperature have a warm bias against sonde for all levels. In particular, there is a globally distinct warm bias about 0.4 K between 200 hPa and 300 hPa corresponding to flight level. Spatially, most of the areas showed the warm bias except for below 300 hPa in some part of China at 0000 and 1200 UTC and below 850 hPa in Australia at 0000 UTC. In general, the temperature bias was larger at 1200 UTC than 0000 UTC. Based on the estimated temperature bias, we have applied the static bias correction method to the aircraft temperature observation. As a result, the warm bias of the aircraft temperature has decreased at most levels, but a slight cold bias has occurred in some areas.

항공기 온도 관측 자료의 편향 보정 Part I: 존데와 비교를 통한 온도 편향 특성 분석