CRISTA-NF measurements of water vapor during the SCOUT-O3 Tropical Aircraft Campaign

The new remote sensing experiment CRISTA-NF (Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere – New Frontiers) successfully participated in the SCOUT-O3 Tropical Aircraft Campaign in November and December 2005. CRISTA-NF operated aboard the high-altitude research aircraft M-55 Geophysica. Mid-infrared spectra (4–15 μm) were measured in the limb sounding geometry with high spatial resolution (250 m vertical sampling, 5–15 km along track sampling). Measurements were carried out during transfer flights between Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, and Darwin, Australia, as well as during several local flights near Darwin. Water vapor volume mixing ratios in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere were derived from the CRISTA-NF radiance measurements by utilizing a rapid radiative transfer forward model and the optimal estimation retrieval approach. CRISTA-NF water vapor measurements below the hygropause have a total retrieval error of 15–40% (i.e. root mean square of accuracy and precision). The systematic terms are dominating in the retrieval error budget. The contributions of a priori information to the retrieval results are less than 5–10%. The vertical resolution of the observations is about 250–500 m when permitted by instrument sampling. In this paper we present first results for three transfer flights of the campaign. Being generally in good agreement with corresponding ECMWF operational analyzes, the CRISTA-NF measurements show significantly higher variability and local structures in the upper tropospheric water vapor distributions.     

Recent advances in understanding stratospheric dynamics and transport processes: Application of satellite data to their interpretation

The present paper discusses the use of the transformed Eulerian (or “residual”) mean-flow formulation, the Eliassen-Palm flux, and Ertel's potential vorticity to provide an increased understanding of wave, mean-flow interactions, and constituent transport processes in the stratosphere. Temperature and ozone data retrieved from radiance profiles obtained by the LIMS instrument on the Nimbus 7 satellite are utilized in conjunction with these theoretical concepts for the interpretation of phenomena that occurred during the major and minor warmings of January-February 1979. The results illustrate the insight provided by these concepts and demonstrate that useful diagnostic quantities can be derived from global satellite temperature fields.     

Mixed surface reflection functions determined from a priori knowledge and satellite radiance

A method to derive mesoscale area means of surface solar flux densities from a priori knowledge and actual cloudfree satellite radiances is presented. It is based on the concept of the mixed reflection function which can be derived from existing data. Herewith and with actual atmospheric data derived from the operational meteorological network the cloudfree radiation field is computed. By comparison of computed and measured satellite radiance the surface albedo of the model is tuned. In a case study this method is applied to an agricultural region called La Mancha, Spain, and comprehensively checked against airborne radiance measurements. The surface albedo can be determined to about ± 0.01.     

Validation of satellite-derived atmospheric temperature and water vapor concentration using radiosonde and rocketsonde measurements

Measurements of the spectral radiance of the earth's atmosphere from satellites can be related to the vertical structures of temperature and humidity. Derived profiles of these quantities are compared with radiosonde and rocketsonde observations, as well as with horizontal and vertical cross-sections of the atmosphere. In some regions of the atmosphere, particularly where large gradients are found, significant differences occur. A method for overcoming these by use of Typical Shape Functions is discussed. Transmittances computed from theory require modifications which are not well defined, and radiances measured from some satellite instruments disagree with computed values in ways which suggest calibration or instrument problems.     

利用青海湖对FY—1C、FY—2B气象卫星热红外通道进行在轨辐射定标

介绍利用青海湖辐射校正场对FY－1C、FY2B气象卫星热红外通道进行在轨辐射定标，先用CE312野外热红外辐射计在水面测量水表辐亮度，再经大气订正传递到卫星入瞳处，大气订正包括大气吸收削弱和大气产生热发射影响，这两部分对卫星信号的贡献通过辐射传输模式MODTRAN37计算出来，同时进行CE312与卫星通道光谱响应匹配，最终得到卫星入瞳处的表观辐亮度，这个辐亮度与卫星通道的计数值得到该通道绝对定标系数。我们对两颗卫星进行了多次定标，结果表明利用青海湖进行的在轨定标与星上定标系数相差5％左右，相当于3K的亮温差。     

Comparison of cloud top heights measured by airborne Lidar and TIROS-N image data

The determination of the cloud top height by means of satelliteborne IR-radiometers requires the conversion of the measured radiance to an equivalent blackbody temperature and the assignment of this temperature to a geometrical height. The latter is associated with errors which add up easily to several kilometers. DFVLR did a case study to compare satellite derived cloud top heights with those from airborne Lidar measurements. The difference of the radiosonde temperature from the standard temperature profile results in a 1.8 km difference in cloud top height. The achievable accuracy using actual radiosonde temperatures is ± 0.4 km for optical thick clouds and much less for optical thin clouds.     

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.     

Analysis of rain attenuation prediction models at Ku-band in Thailand

The performance of the existing rain attenuation models in tropical zones is still a debated issue due to the lack of measurements reported from these areas of the world to develop and validate prediction models. A three-year (2003–2005) campaign of rainfall rate and rain attenuation measurements was conducted on a satellite beacon link located in a tropical region of Thailand. The cumulative distributions of rain attenuation derived from the measured data are presented and compared with those obtained with existing prediction models.     

Estimation of cloud top height and effective cloud cover from infrared satellite soundings

The paper deals with a new method for simultaneous determination of cloud top height and effective cloud cover, using infrared radiance data of satellite-borne instruments. These cloud properties derived from the Selective Chopper Radiometer on the Nimbus 5 satellite are compared with nearly simultaneous observations by radiosondes and with satellite images. Encouraging results for Central-Europe during January, April, July, August and October 1974, as well as numerical simulations indicate that the method proposed here, would be useful also for global application. Another advantage of the described procedure are the small amount of computing time, and that no other data are required than 3 of infrared channel values, for each sounded spot.     

多波段光谱辐亮度计量值溯源技术研究

光谱辐亮度计是实现空间遥感仪器在地面实验室内进行高精度光谱定标的关键设备之一，本文基于标准探测器的辐亮度传递原理，利用视场光阑、孔径光阑、窄带滤光片和光电二极管研制了10测量通道的遮光筒式多波段光谱辐亮度计，测量波长分布在（400~1 100）nm范围。具有校准通道，与积分球单色光源匹配使用，实现光谱辐亮度的量值溯源，测量不确定度优于2.2%。     

Advances on Technology and Application of Ocean Color Remote Sensing in China (2004 - 2006)

China has great progress in the technology and application of ocean color remote sensing during 2004-2006. In this report, firstly, four major technical advances are displaying, including (1) the vector radiative transfer numerical model of coupled ocean-atmosphere system; (2) the atmospheric correction algorithm specialized on Chinese high turbid water; (3) systematical research of hyper-spectrum ocean color remote sensing; (4) local algorithms of oceanic parameters, like ocean color components, ocean primary productivity, water transparency, water quality parameters, etc. On the foundation of technical advances, ocean color remote sensing takes effect on ocean environment monitoring, with four major kinds of application systems, namely, (1) the automatic multi-satellites data receiving, processing and application system; (2) the shipboard satellite data receiving and processing system for fishery ground information; (3) Coastal water quality monitoring system, integrating satellite and airborne remote sensing technology and ship measurement; (4) the preliminary system of airborne ocean color remote sensing application system. Finally, the prospective development of Chinese ocean color remote sensing is brought forward. With Chinese second ocean color satellite (HY-1B) orbiting, great strides will take place in Chinese ocean color information accumulation and application.     

Analysis of the Cyclotron Facility calibration and aircraft dosimetry results from the LIULIN-3M instrument.

The LIULIN-3M instrument is a further development of the LIULIN dosimeter-radiometer, used on the MIR spacestation during the 1988-1994 time period. The LIULIN-3M is designed for continuous monitoring of the radiation environment during the BION-12 satellite flight in 1999. A semiconductor detector with 1 mm thickness and cm2 area is contained in the instrument. Pulse high analysis technique is used to determine the energy losses in the detector. The final data from the instrument are the flux and the dose rate for the exposure time and 256 channels of absorbed dose spectra based on the assumption that the particle flux is normal to the detector. The LIULIN-3M instrument was calibrated by proton fluxes with different energies at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility in June 1997 and had been used for radiation measurements during commercial aircraft flights. The calibration procedure and some flight results are presented in this paper.     

Vegetation health: Nature's climate monitor

Observational data to effectively evaluate weather effects, which accumulate into current climate status, are available for affluent nations but often are inadequate elsewhere. Data acquired by satellite sensors in the visible-near infrared portion of the reflected solar energy spectrum have been accumulated daily since 1965 and for the earth's emitted radiance in the 11000 nm window since 1972. With the advent of the TIROS-N satellite in 1978, the solar reflected energy has been sensed in two separate channels and beginning with NOAA-6, the second vehicle of the TIROS-N family, these two channels became complementary rather than overlapping. This feature makes vegetative monitoring possible and now is being exploited to provide daily experimental products. These global vegetative index (GVI) arrays have been used to observe and map the effects of droughts, floods, adverse winds and thermal stresses on the global arable lands. These data and the related sea surface temperatures, both derived from satellite data, provide realistic measures of the global climate and can assist climatic forecasting.     

星下目标的光谱反射特性分析及云层的自动识别

本文着重讨论了遥感数据的实时分类和星载相机快门的自动关启问题.首先建立了计算各类目标景象亮度的物理模型,分析了大气等因素对遥感数据的影响及各类自然目标的光谱反射特性,计算了三十四种目标在九种大气条件下的亮度值.进而提出了识别植被、土壤、水、冰雪和云等五类目标的最佳波段和分类函数及分类流程图,得到了很高的分类精度.然后又特别讨论了云层和所有非云目标(包括混合目标)的分类问题,并用密度计测量了十张MSS卫星图片上的180个目标的亮度值.最后提出了云层开关的实现途径和系统设计的基本思想.      

High resolution limb observations of clouds by the CRISTA-NF experiment during the SCOUT-O3 tropical aircraft campaign

The Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere – New Frontiers (CRISTA-NF) experiment on board the Russian research aircraft Geophysica measures limb emission spectra with an unprecedented vertical and horizontal resolution in the 4–15 μm wavelength region. The IR spectra measured during the SCOUT-O3 Tropical Aircraft Campaign have been analysed with respect of cloud occurrence, cloud vertical and horizontal extent, cloud spatial structures and their utilisation for trace gas retrievals. In addition indicators for ice water content and optical thickness of the clouds have been adopted. These new kinds of measurements in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere region are especially valuable for the design and development of future space borne high resolution limb sounders.     

Mesospheric OH temperatures: Simultaneous ground-based and SABER OH measurements over Millstone Hill

We present rotational temperature measurements of the mesospheric OH emission layer using a meridional imaging spectrograph at Millstone Hill (42.6°N, 72.5°W). The system is equipped with a state-of-the-art bare-CCD detector and can yield simultaneous quasi-meridional images of the mesospheric OH and O₂ intensity and temperature fields at 87 and 94 km altitude during the course of each night. A cross-validation study of the rotational OH temperature measurements obtained on 61 nights during the autumnal months of 2005–2007 was undertaken with near-simultaneous kinetic temperature measurements made by the SABER instrument aboard the NASA TIMED satellite during overpasses of Millstone Hill. Excellent agreement was obtained between the two datasets with the small differences being attributable to differences in the spatial and temporal averaging inherent between the two datasets.     

A neutral gas mass spectrometer to measure the chemical composition of the stratosphere

The Polar Balloon Atmospheric Composition Experiment (P-BACE) is a new generation of neutral gas mass spectrometer based on the time-of-flight principle. P-BACE is the scientific experiment on the Mars Environment Analog Platform (MEAP) flown successfully on a balloon mission in summer 2008. The MEAP mission was flown with a 334,000 m³ helium balloon in the stratosphere on a semicircular trajectory from northern Sweden around the North Pole to Canada using the summer northern hemispheric wind current. The atmospheric conditions at an atmospheric altitude of 35–40 km are remarkably similar to those on the surface of Mars and thus the balloon mission was an ideal testbed for our mass spectrometer P-BACE. Originally this instrument was designed for in situ measurements of the chemical composition of the Martian atmosphere.P-BACE has a unique mass range from 0 to 1000 amu/q with a mass resolution m/Δm (FWHM) > 1000, and the dynamic range is at least six orders of magnitude. During this experiment, the acquisition of one mass spectrum is a sum of 65,535 single spectra, recorded in a time frame of 66 s.The balloon mission lasted 5 days and had successfully demonstrated the functionality of the P-BACE instrument during flight conditions. We had recorded more than 4500 mass spectra. With little modifications, P-BACE can be used on a planetary mission for Mars, but for example also for Venus or Mercury, if placed on a satellite.     

嫦娥一号干涉成像光谱仪2C级图像数据质量评价

嫦娥一号干涉成像光谱仪(IIM)获取的多波段图像数据对于月表矿物成分反演具有重要意义. 从目视质量、客观参数、几何配准精度、图像质量随时间的变化情况等方面对IIM 2C级的多波段图像数据质量进行了评价. 结果显示, 其两端波段范围的图像质量较差, 不能有效识别月表单元, 中间波段图像质量较好; 自然色图像显示IIM数据存在明显的横向色调不均一性. 利用图像的客观评价指标(辐射精度、清晰度、信息量)将干涉成像光谱仪图像数据与美国Clementine UV-VIS多光谱图像数据进行对比分析, 结果表明, IIM数据清晰度好于Clementine UV-VIS, 而在方差和信息量上弱于Clementine UV-VIS. 将IIM图像数据与Clementine多光谱数据统一到相同的空间分辨率, 进行配准精度评价, 其最大控制点配准误差为0.63pixel. 此外, 还对时间跨度两个月覆盖月表同一区域的IIM图像数据从辐射精度、信息量和清晰度方面进行了评价.      

Dark Matter searches with GLAST

The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), scheduled to be launched in fall 2007, is the next generation satellite for high-energy gamma-ray astronomy. The Large Area Telescope (LAT), GLAST main instrument, with a wide field of view (>2 sr), a large effective area (>8000 cm² at 1 GeV) and 20 MeV–300 GeV energy range, will provide excellent high energy gamma-ray observations for Dark Matter searches. In this paper we examine the potential of the LAT to detect gamma-rays coming from WIMPS annihilation in the context of supersymmetry. As an example, two search regions are investigated: the galactic center and the galactic satellites.     

Satellite measurements of atmospheric composition: Three years' observations of CH4 and N2O

The stratospheric and mesospheric sounder (SAMS) was launched in October 1978 on the NIMBUS 7 satellite. Between then and its eventual failure in June 1983 the instrument was used to collect over four years of radiance data from which atmospheric temperature and the abundances of a number of minor constituents have been derived. The paper will present fields of CH₄ and N₂O between 50S and 70N derived from SAMS data for the period 1979–1981. Global distributions of CH₄ and N₂O will be presented in various forms and the observed seasonal changes and interannual variability will be described. The paper will compare the SAMS CH₄ and N₂O data with model predictions and will comment upon some other areas of interest.