BibTeX
@MISC{Merrelli12theatmospheric,
author = {Aronne Merrelli},
title = {THE ATMOSPHERIC INFORMATION CONTENT OF EARTH’S FAR INFRARED SPECTRUM},
year = {2012}
}
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Abstract
A key component of the modern Earth observation system is the Mid-Infrared (MIR) hyper-spectral sounder. Operational instruments on polar orbiting satellites are collecting a continuous record of highly accurate infrared spectra with a wide variety of applications in geoscience. Al-though some research instrumentation early in the development of the meteorological satellite used Far-Infrared (FIR) sensitive detectors, the primary focus of infrared instrumentation has been the MIR region. Recent developments in FIR instrumentation and a renewed interest in the FIR for climate applications has brought attention to this underexplored part of Earth’s Infrared spectrum. The information content of Earth’s FIR spectrum is investigated within a modeling frame-work that simulates satellite observations of FIR and MIR spectra at hyperspectral resolution. The framework allows for direct comparison of the two spectral ranges, which can quantify the po-tential benefits of combining FIR spectral observations with the state of the art MIR observations. The framework is first applied to investigate the information content for retrieving the vertical tem-perature and water vapor profile in clear sky conditions. The FIR shows additional sensitivity to upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric water vapor, and a slight but consistent vertical resolu-tion advantage relative to the MIR. By extending the simulation framework to include layer clouds
Keyphrases
information content clear sky condition mir region stratospheric water vapor key component sensitive detector water vapor profile hyper-spectral sounder infrared instrumentation underexplored part layer cloud recent development vertical tem-perature primary focus hyperspectral resolution fir spectrum art mir observation direct comparison consistent vertical resolu-tion advantage relative research instrumentation climate application additional sensitivity infrared spectrum modern earth observation system spectral range satellite observation meteorological satellite operational instrument fir spectral observation polar orbiting satellite wide variety po-tential benefit continuous record fir instrumentation simulation framework
