Extreme atmospheric events detection using IASI

Definition of an extreme atmospheric event

Many types of extreme atmospheric events can be identified:

• high pollution episode generated by large fires
• high pollution peaks on large urban areas
• volcanic plumes
• agricultural pollution
• major industrial accident

Objective and approach

This study aimed to define a method for the detection and the characterisation of exceptional atmospheric events, like those listed above, and to develop a software able to process IASI data in near real-time.
Two methods based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were implemented and assessed: i) standard PCA of spectra based upon reference database optimized for detection of extreme events; ii) innovative approach combining PCA and technique of principal angles, exploiting jointly simulated and measured reference databases.
The prototype was evaluated against two IASI datasets: i) few cases of atmospheric events for validating the method; ii) one year of global IASI data, including clearly identified episodes of reference, for assessing the software performance.

Funder: CNES
Duration: 2017-2018
Contact at Hygeos: Dominique Jolivet