A new algorithm to generate a priori trace gas profiles for the GGG2020 retrieval algorithm

Optimal estimation retrievals of trace gas total columns require prior vertical profiles of the gases retrieved to drive the forward model and ensure the retrieval problem is mathematically well posed. For well-mixed gases, it is possible to derive accurate prior profiles using an algorithm that accounts for general patterns of atmospheric transport coupled with measured time series of the gases in questions. Here we describe the algorithm used to generate the prior profiles for GGG2020, a new version of the GGG retrieval that is used to analyze spectra from solar-viewing Fourier transform spectrometers, including the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). A particular focus of this work is improving the accuracy of CO2, CH4, N2O, HF, and CO across the tropopause and into the lower stratosphere. We show that the revised priors agree well with independent in situ and space-based measurements and discuss the impact on the total column retrievals.

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Related Dataset #1 : Earth System Research Laboratory Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Group Flask-Air Sample Measurements of CO2 at Global and Regional Background Sites, 1967-Present

Related Dataset #2 : NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Group Continuous Insitu Measurements of CO2 at Global Background Sites, 1973-Present

Related Dataset #3 : Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment SciSat Level 2 Processed Data, v3.5 / v3.6

Related Dataset #4 : Multi-laboratory compilation of atmospheric carbon dioxide data for the period 1957-2018; obspack_co2_1_GLOBALVIEWplus_v5.0_2019_08_12

Related Dataset #5 : Multi-laboratory compilation of atmospheric carbon dioxide data for the period 1957-2018; obspack_ch4_1_GLOBALVIEWplus_v2.0_2020_04_24

Related Dataset #6 : HIPPO Merged 10-Second Meteorology, Atmospheric Chemistry, and Aerosol Data. Version 1.0

Related Dataset #7 : ATom: Merged Atmospheric Chemistry, Trace Gases, and Aerosols

Related Software #1 : ginput v1.0.7b: GGG2020 prior profile software

Related Software #2 : WennbergLab/py-ginput: ginput v1.1.6 release
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Author Laughner, J. L.
Roche, S.
Kiel, M.
Toon, G. C.
Wunch, D.
Baier, B. C.
Biraud, S.
Chen, H.
Kivi, R.
Laemmel, T.
McKain, K.
Quéhé, P.
Rousogenous, C.
Stephens, Britton
Walker, K.
Wennberg, P. O.
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2023-03-07T00:00:00
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Not Assigned
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2025-07-11T15:53:42.080329
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:26191
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Laughner, J. L., Roche, S., Kiel, M., Toon, G. C., Wunch, D., Baier, B. C., Biraud, S., Chen, H., Kivi, R., Laemmel, T., McKain, K., Quéhé, P., Rousogenous, C., Stephens, Britton, Walker, K., Wennberg, P. O.. (2023). A new algorithm to generate a priori trace gas profiles for the GGG2020 retrieval algorithm. UCAR/NCAR - Library. https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7nc654z. Accessed 31 July 2025.

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