Statistical comparison of night-time NO2 observations in 2003–2006 from GOMOS and MIPAS instruments

GOMOS (Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars) and MIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding) are remote sensing instruments on board the European Space Agency’s Envisat satellite. GOMOS and MIPAS have been designed for observations of stratospheric and mesospheric constituents, including ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Both instruments have a good global coverage of observations and can provide data also from the polar regions. In this paper, we compare night-time NO₂ data from GOMOS with those from MIPAS. We present statistics of selected sets of data spanning from the year 2003 to 2006. The results for low-to-mid latitudes show that the two instruments are in a good agreement in the middle stratosphere, the differences being typically less than 5%. In the upper stratosphere, GOMOS observations generally show 15% higher values than those from MIPAS. The bias is in virtually all cases smaller than the combined systematic error of the measurements, giving great confidence in the GOMOS and MIPAS data quality. The result for high mesospheric NO₂ mixing ratios observed in the polar regions during winter times indicate a good agreement between GOMOS and MIPAS. In the mesosphere, the difference is less than 35% and smaller than the systematic error. Due to the high mesospheric signal, MIPAS sensitivity decreases in the stratosphere which results in larger differences between the two instruments.     

The potential for radiometric retrievals of halocarbon concentrations from the MIPAS-E instrument

Halocarbons, such as CFC-11, CFC-12 and HCFC-22, are important trace gases in the atmosphere through their role as greenhouse gases and their influence on stratospheric ozone chemistry. This paper focuses on an initial study using integration of spectral radiance measurements from a spaceborne limb sounding Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) to retrieve these compounds in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). The instrument employed in this study is the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding onboard ENVISAT (MIPAS-E) which obtains spectral data in the altitude range of 6–68 km at an unapodized spectral resolution of 0.025 cm⁻¹. We have used optimal estimation techniques to retrieve vertical information for these compounds using a radiometric approach.

It is shown that significant retrieval information is obtained at up to five measured levels in the UTLS for CFC-11, up to six for CFC-12 and up to two levels for HCFC-22. An initial error analysis indicates significant sensitivity of our retrievals to variability in operationally retrieved pressure and temperature data. For each halocarbon, gain, offset and spectroscopic uncertainties generally each contribute less than 10% to the total error. Finally, tracer correlations are used to compare the datasets to equivalent relationships derived here from version 2 ATMOS data with very good agreements for CFC-12 but with more variability in the CFC-11 comparisons.     

Spin motion determination of the Envisat satellite through laser ranging measurements from a single pass measured by a single station

The Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) technology is used to accurately determine the position of space objects equipped with so-called retro-reflectors or retro-reflector arrays (RRA). This type of measurement allows to measure the range to the spacecraft with high precision, which leads to determination of very accurate orbits for these targets. Non-active spacecraft, which are not attitude controlled any longer, tend to start to spin or tumble under influence of the external and internal torques and forces.If the return signal is measured for a non-spherical non-active rotating object, the signal in the range residuals with respect to the reference orbit is more complex. For rotating objects the return signal shows an oscillating pattern or patterns caused by the RRA moving around the satellite’s centre of mass. This behaviour is projected onto the radial component measured by the SLR.In our work, we demonstrate how the SLR ranging technique from one sensor to a satellite equipped with a RRA can be used to precisely determine its spin motion during one passage. Multiple SLR measurements of one target over time allow to accurately monitor spin motion changes which can be further used for attitude predictions. We show our solutions of the spin motion determined for the non-active ESA satellite Envisat obtained from measurements acquired during years 2013–2015 by the Zimmerwald SLR station, Switzerland. All the necessary parameters are defined for our own so-called point-like model which describes the motion of a point in space around the satellite centre of mass.     

Boundary of nighttime ozone chemical equilibrium in the mesopause region: Improved criterion of determining the boundary from satellite data

A modified derivation of the criterion of nighttime ozone chemical equilibrium (NOCE) in the mesopause region is presented. According to 3D model calculations, the improved criterion reproduces the lower boundary of the equilibrium much better than its earlier version. Processing of the SABER/TIMED data of 2021 has shown that the modified criterion elevates the NOCE boundary by ～ 0.1–1.7 km, depending on latitude and season. The proposed method of determining the condition of chemical equilibrium can be used to analyse the equilibrium of many trace gases in the stratosphere and troposphere important for different practical applications.     

Vertical TEC in the equatorial anomaly region from satellite altimetry data

The high-precision demands imposed by the ocean altimetry community of the late 1980 resulted in the TOPEX/Poseidon mission. This mission was the first to carry as its main instrument a dual-frequency sea-altimeter on board a satellite. This instrument together with other state-of-the-art technologies involved in the mission, led to sea-height determinations with precision better than 2 cm. As a by-product, the TOPEX/Poseidon mission provided vertical TEC determinations that since they became available, have demonstrated to be a powerful tool for ionospheric studies.     

First results from the LUCID-Timepix spacecraft payload onboard the TechDemoSat-1 satellite in Low Earth Orbit

The Langton Ultimate Cosmic ray Intensity Detector (LUCID) is a payload onboard the satellite TechDemoSat-1, used to study the radiation environment in Low Earth Orbit ($～$635?km). LUCID operated from 2014 to 2017, collecting over 2.1 million frames of radiation data from its five Timepix detectors on board. LUCID is one of the first uses of the Timepix detector technology in open space, with the data providing useful insight into the performance of this technology in new environments. It provides high-sensitivity imaging measurements of the mixed radiation field, with a wide dynamic range in terms of spectral response, particle type and direction. The data has been analysed using computing resources provided by GridPP, with a new machine learning algorithm that uses the Tensorflow framework. This algorithm provides a new approach to processing Medipix data, using a training set of human labelled tracks, providing greater particle classification accuracy than other algorithms. For managing the LUCID data, we have developed an online platform called Timepix Analysis Platform at School (TAPAS). This provides a swift and simple way for users to analyse data that they collect using Timepix detectors from both LUCID and other experiments. We also present some possible future uses of the LUCID data and Medipix detectors in space.     

First results of ozone profiles between 35 and 65 km retrieved from SCIAMACHY limb spectra and observations of ozone depletion during the solar proton events in October/November 2003

Ozone density profiles between 35 and 65 km altitude are derived from scattered sunlight limb radiance spectra measured by the SCIAMACHY instrument on the Envisat satellite. The method is based on the inversion of normalized limb radiance profiles in the Hartley absorption bands of ozone at selected wavelengths between 250 and 310 nm. It employs a non-linear Newtonian iteration version of Optimal Estimation (OE) coupled with the radiative transfer model SCIARAYS. The limb scatter technique combined with a classical OE retrieval in the short-wave UV-B and long-wave UV-C delivers reliable results as shown by a first comparison with MIPAS V4.61 profiles yielding agreement within 10% between 38 and 55 km. An overview of the methodology and an initial error analysis are presented. Furthermore the effect of the solar proton storm between 28 October and 6 November 2003 on the ozone concentration profiles is shown. They indicate large depletion of ozone of about 60% at 50 km in the Northern hemisphere, a weaker depletion in the Southern hemisphere and a dependence of the depletion on the Earth’s magnetic field.     

A simulation analysis of systematic errors in ion arrival angle and drift velocity from the satellite borne ion drift meter

As one payload of a Chinese seismic satellite program, an ion drift meter (IDM) will measure drift velocity of thermal ions at an altitude of 500 km. Previous works have shown that such instruments use biased grids to create nonuniform potential in the grid planes, which brings systematic errors to the inferred parameters. A commercial finite element analysis software is used to simulate this instrument in the exact size. The error sources from thermal velocity, nonuniform transparency of real grids and potential depression in the grid planes are explained. The simulation results show that the arrival angle and drift velocity will be underestimated in all the conditions and the maximal error will be about −0.87° and −121 m/s, respectively. Furthermore, the relative error of the inferred arrival angle and the drift velocity will be inversely correlated with the arrival angle because of the lensing effect of the potential depression. This simulation provides a quantificational method of evaluating and correcting the data during in situ operation.     

Using the MIR bands in vegetation indices for the estimation of grassland biophysical parameters from satellite remote sensing in the Alps region of Trentino (Italy)

Development of new methods for estimating biophysical parameters can be considered one of the most important targets for the improvement of grassland parameters estimation at full canopy cover. In fact, accurate assessment methods of biophysical characteristics of vegetation are needed in order to avoid the uncertainties of carbon terrestrial sinks.

Remote sensing is a valid tool for scaling up ecosystem measurements towards landscape levels serving a wide range of applications, many of them being related to carbon-cycle models. The aim of this study was to test the suitability of satellite platform sensors in estimating grassland biophysical parameters such as LAI, biomass, phytomass, and Green herbage ratio (GR). Also, we wanted to compare some of the most common NIR and red/green-based vegetation indices with ones that also make use of the MIR band, in relation to their ability to predict grassland biophysical parameters.

Ground-truth measurements were taken on July 2003 and 2004 on the Monte Bondone plateau (Italian Alps, Trento district) in grasslands varying in land use and management intensities. From satellite platforms, an IRS-1C-LISS III image (18/07/2003; 25 m resolution in the visible-NIR and 70 m resolution in the MIR) and a SPOT 5 image (27/07/2004, 10 m resolution in the visible-NIR and MIR) were used.

LAI, biomass, and phytomass measurements showed logarithmic relationships with the investigated NIR and red/green-based indices. GreenNDVI showed the highest R² values (0.59, IRS 2003; 0.60, SPOT 2004). Index saturation occurred above approximately 100–150 g m⁻² of biomass (LAI 1.5–2). On the other hand, GR relationships were shown to be linear. MIR-based indices performed better than NIR and red/green-based ones in estimating biophysical variables, with no saturation effect. Biomass showed a linear regression with Canopy Index (MIR/green ratio) and with the Normalised Canopy Index (NCI) calculated as a normalised difference between MIR and green bands (IRS: R² = 0.91 and 0.90, respectively. SPOT: R² = 0.63 and 0.64). Similar correlations could also be found for LAI and phytomass, and GR predictability was shown to be higher than NDVI and GreenNDVI. According to these results obtained in the investigated areas, phytomass, biomass, LAI, and GR are linearly correlated with the investigated MIR band indices and as a result, these parameters could be estimated from the adopted satellite platforms with limited saturation problems.     

3D information from 2D images recorded in the European Modular Cultivation System on the ISS

The European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) on the ISS allows long-term biological experiments, e.g. on plants. Video cameras provide near real-time 2D images from these experiments. A method to obtain 3D coordinates and stereoscopic images from these 2D images has been developed and is described in this paper. The procedure was developed to enhance the data output of the MULTIGEN-1 experiment in 2007. One of the main objectives of the experiment was to study growth movements of the Arabidopsis plants and the effect of gravity on these. 3D data were important during parts of the experiment and the paper presents the method developed to acquire 3D data, the accuracy of the data, limitations to the technique and ways to improve the accuracy. Sequences of 3D data obtained from the MULTIGEN-1 experiment are used to illustrate the potential of this newfound capability of the EMCS. In the experiment setup, a positional depth accuracy of about ±0.4 mm for relative object distances and an absolute depth accuracy of about ±1.4 mm for time dependent phenomena was reached. The ability to both view biological specimens in 3D as well as obtaining quantitative 3D data added greatly to the scientific output of the MULTIGEN-1 experiment. The uses of the technique to other researchers and their experiments are discussed.