Question 8

How do POES sounding retrievals complement the GOES sounder and RAOB observing systems? (Check the boxes for all answers that apply, and leave those that do not apply unchecked. Then click DONE.) a) POES retrievals are available in cloudy regions. b) POES retrievals offer useful information in areas of precipitation. c) POES retrievals offer information over data-sparse oceanic regions not covered by GOES. d) POES retrievals offer invaluable information for global numerical weather prediction models.   Discussion The combined infrared and microwave sensing capabilities of today's NOAA and DMSP polar satellites are expanding the amount of hydrometeorological information available to weather forecasters across oceanic and other data-sparse regions. POES sounding data also provide invaluable information to numerical models, helping to improve the short-term forecasts of significant weather events globally. Answer b) is incorrect as moderate to heavy precipitation contaminates atmospheric microwave emissions below the level of the precipitation.