Upper-atmospheric CO2 concentration retrieved from thermal infrared spectra observed using GOSAT TANSO-FTS (TIR) sensor

Ryoichi Imasu; Naoko Saitoh; Kei Shiomi; Hiroshi Suto; Akihiko Kuze; Masakatsu Nakajima

doi:10.1117/12.830387

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22 September 2009 Upper-atmospheric CO₂ concentration retrieved from thermal infrared spectra observed using GOSAT TANSO-FTS (TIR) sensor

Ryoichi Imasu, Naoko Saitoh, Kei Shiomi, Hiroshi Suto, Akihiko Kuze, Masakatsu Nakajima

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Proceedings Volume 7474, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XIII; 74740K (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.830387
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2009, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

The greenhouse gas observing satellite (GOSAT) was launched on 23 January 2009. Its main sensor, the "thermal and near infrared sensor for carbon observation Fourier transform spectrometer (TANSO-FTS)", is functioning normally. It can measure a wide spectrum including three CO₂ absorption bands at 1.6 μm and 2.0 μm (Short Wavelength InfraRed, SWIR band), and 15 μm (Thermal InfraRed, TIR band). The former two bands are used to estimate columnar concentrations of CO₂. The latter is used to retrieve the vertical profile of CO₂ concentration in the upper troposphere. Simulation studies show that high radiometric calibration accuracy of 0.3 K in brightness temperature Tbb is necessary to retrieve a CO₂ concentration profile with accuracy of 1% in the upper atmosphere. The sensor's fundamental performance was evaluated during the initial checkout period, which continued for six months. Results show that most of the radiometric performance is achieved as designed. However, results also show that some systematic biases exist in the TIR spectrum because of the opacity of the dichroic mirrors of SWIR bands obstructing the field of view of the TIR band. These biases can be mostly removed by explicitly considering radiation--that emitted from inside of the optics and multiple scattering of target signals--in the calibration procedure. Using a three-day global composite of the clear sky spectrum, CO₂ concentrations in the upper atmosphere were retrieved preliminarily. Results show a convincing hemispheric concentration gradient, which agrees well with the climatologic distribution of CO₂.

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Ryoichi Imasu, Naoko Saitoh, Kei Shiomi, Hiroshi Suto, Akihiko Kuze, and Masakatsu Nakajima "Upper-atmospheric CO₂ concentration retrieved from thermal infrared spectra observed using GOSAT TANSO-FTS (TIR) sensor", Proc. SPIE 7474, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XIII, 74740K (22 September 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.830387

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