Tropospheric water vapor retrieval from a nadir THz/FIR sounder

Philippe Baron; Jana Mendrok; Eric Dupuy; Yasuko Kasai

doi:10.1117/12.806408

11 December 2008 Tropospheric water vapor retrieval from a nadir THz/FIR sounder

Philippe Baron, Jana Mendrok, Eric Dupuy, Yasuko Kasai

Proceedings Volume 7149, Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Remote Sensing Technology, Techniques, and Applications II; 714909 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.806408
Event: SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing, 2008, Noumea, New Caledonia

Abstract

This work presents clear-sky simulations to study water vapor (H₂O) retrieval from a nadir sounder operating in the TeraHertz (THz) and Far-Infrared (FIR) spectral domains (100-500 cm^-1). The THz/FIR retrieval is compared with retrieval from the mid-InfraRed (IR) 7μm H₂O band (1200-2000 cm^-1). The THz/FIR observations are more sensitive in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere than the IR measurements. On the other hand, the IR sounder has better performance in the lower troposphere. The retrieval error due to uncertainties on the temperature profile are of the same order of magnitude in the THz/FIR and IR bands. No significant retrieval errors from contaminating species have been found. The calculations for several atmospheric scenarios show that retrieval performances are not only dependent on the H₂O abundance but also on the temperature gradient. Hence, sensitivity in the UT/LS layer, with a low temperature gradient, is poor. The combination of FIR and IR merges the advantages of both bands, and allows to slightly decorrelate temperature and H₂O VMR.

Citation Download Citation

Philippe Baron, Jana Mendrok, Eric Dupuy, and Yasuko Kasai "Tropospheric water vapor retrieval from a nadir THz/FIR sounder", Proc. SPIE 7149, Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Remote Sensing Technology, Techniques, and Applications II, 714909 (11 December 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.806408

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available