High-precision solar occultation for sounding of the thermosphere and mesosphere

Larry L. Gordley; Mark Hervig; John Kemp; James M. Russell III

doi:10.1117/12.514292

16 February 2004 High-precision solar occultation for sounding of the thermosphere and mesosphere

Larry L. Gordley, Mark Hervig, John Kemp, James M. Russell III

Proceedings Volume 5235, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere VIII; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.514292
Event: Remote Sensing, 2003, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

The Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment (SOFIE) is one instrument proposed for the recently selected Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite. SOFIE will characterize profiles of temperature, particle extinction, and gas concentration using differential solar occultation measurements with eight channel pairs covering wavelengths (λ) from 0.290 to 5.32 μm. Six of these broadband (~2% filter width) channels are designed to measure gaseous absorption (O₃, CO₂, H₂O, CH₄, and NO), and two are dedicated to particle absorption. Each channel uses two detectors, one that measures the target gas in a strongly absorbing spectral region and one that measures in an adjacent weakly absorbing spectral region. In addition to direct measurements, simultaneous difference signals measured for the eight channel pairs allow extraordinarily precision, resulting in a limb-path extinction of 10^-6 or less. Measurements in two CO₂ bands will be used to simultaneously retrieve profiles of temperature and CO₂ mixing ratio. In addition, temperature profiles will be retrieved in the lower stratosphere using measurements of the solar refraction angle versus height, an approach conceptually similar to that used in Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) refraction angle temperature retrievals. SOFIE measurements will accurately characterize temperature, gas mixing ratios, and particle extinction at altitudes from the tropopause into the lower thermosphere. Implementation and design issues, plus proof-of-concept are presented.

Citation Download Citation

Larry L. Gordley, Mark Hervig, John Kemp, and James M. Russell III "High-precision solar occultation for sounding of the thermosphere and mesosphere", Proc. SPIE 5235, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere VIII, (16 February 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.514292

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