IASI-METOP and MIPAS-ENVISAT data fusion

The combination of data obtained with different sensors (data fusion) is a powerful technique that can provide target products of the best quality in terms of precision and accuracy, as well as spatial and temporal coverage and resolution. In this paper the results are presented of the data fusion of measurements of ozone vertical profile performed by two space-borne interferometers (IASI on METOP and MIPAS on ENVISAT) using the new measurement-space-solution method. With this method both the loss of information due to interpolation and the propagation of possible biases (caused by a priori information) are avoided. The data fusion products are characterized by means of retrieval errors, information gain, averaging kernels and number of degrees of freedom. The analysis is performed both on simulated and real measurements and the results demonstrate and quantify the improvement of data fusion products with respect to measurements of a single instrument.