· The average accuracy of POES moisture measurements is about 85% near the surface and about 60% at 400 mb.
· Operational moisture soundings using AMSU-B data are currently not available. This means that for cloudy conditions, microwave measurements are not being used for moisture. AMSU-B sounding products, derived separately from those using AMSU-A and HIRS , are tentatively scheduled for operational implementation in the spring of 2000. About 60,000 moisture soundings per orbit, a six-fold increase, will be available from AMSU-B.