Articles | Volume 14, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-4593-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-4593-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Jun 2021
Research article |
| 21 Jun 2021
| 21 Jun 2021
MicroPulse DIAL (MPD) – a diode-laser-based lidar architecture for quantitative atmospheric profiling
Scott M. Spuler
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Matthew Hayman
Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Robert A. Stillwell
Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Joshua Carnes
Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Todd Bernatsky
Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Kevin S. Repasky
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
Related authors
Luke Colberg, Kevin S. Repasky, Matthew Hayman, Robert A. Stillwell, and Scott M. Spuler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1989, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1989, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
Short summary
Short summary
Two methods were developed to measure the mixed layer height, an important variable for weather forecasting and air quality studies. An aerosol-based method and a thermodynamic method were tested using a lidar system that can measure vertical profiles of aerosols, humidity, and temperature. Each method performed best under different conditions. Together, they provide a path toward more reliable mixed layer height monitoring with a single instrument.
Robert A. Stillwell, Adam Karboski, Matthew Hayman, and Scott M. Spuler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1288, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1288, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
A method is introduced to expand the observational capability of a diode-laser-based lidar system. This method allows the lidar transmitter to change the laser pulse characteristics from one shot to the next. We use this capability to lower the minimum altitude of observation and also used it to observe clouds with higher range resolution.
S. M. Spuler, K. S. Repasky, B. Morley, D. Moen, M. Hayman, and A. R. Nehrir
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 1073–1087, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-1073-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-1073-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
A water vapor lidar has been designed and tested which has the potential to enable a national-scale network. The system is low-maintenance, low-cost, eye-safe, and provides continuous profiles of water vapor with complete coverage, including periods of daytime bright clouds, from 300m above ground level to 4km with 150m nominal vertical resolution and 1 min temporal resolution. The sensor may be useful in improving our understanding of the distribution of atmospheric water vapor.
W. A. Cooper, S. M. Spuler, M. Spowart, D. H. Lenschow, and R. B. Friesen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 3215–3231, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3215-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3215-2014, 2014
Luke Colberg, Kevin S. Repasky, Matthew Hayman, Robert A. Stillwell, and Scott M. Spuler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1989, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1989, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
Short summary
Short summary
Two methods were developed to measure the mixed layer height, an important variable for weather forecasting and air quality studies. An aerosol-based method and a thermodynamic method were tested using a lidar system that can measure vertical profiles of aerosols, humidity, and temperature. Each method performed best under different conditions. Together, they provide a path toward more reliable mixed layer height monitoring with a single instrument.
Robert A. Stillwell, Adam Karboski, Matthew Hayman, and Scott M. Spuler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1288, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1288, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
A method is introduced to expand the observational capability of a diode-laser-based lidar system. This method allows the lidar transmitter to change the laser pulse characteristics from one shot to the next. We use this capability to lower the minimum altitude of observation and also used it to observe clouds with higher range resolution.
John S. Schreck, Gabrielle Gantos, Matthew Hayman, Aaron Bansemer, and David John Gagne
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 5793–5819, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5793-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5793-2022, 2022
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We show promising results for a new machine-learning based paradigm for processing field-acquired cloud droplet holograms. The approach is fast, scalable, and leverages GPUs and other heterogeneous computing platforms. It combines applications of transfer and active learning by using synthetic data for training and a small set of hand-labeled data for refinement and validation. Artificial noise applied during synthetic training enables optimized models for real-world situations.
Willem J. Marais and Matthew Hayman
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 5159–5180, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5159-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5159-2022, 2022
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For atmospheric science and weather prediction, it is important to make water vapor measurements in real time. A low-cost lidar instrument has been developed by Montana State University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. We developed an advanced signal-processing method to extend the scientific capability of the lidar instrument. With the new method we show that the maximum altitude at which the MPD can make water vapor measurements can be extended up to 8 km.
Robert A. Stillwell, Ryan R. Neely III, Jeffrey P. Thayer, Matthew D. Shupe, and David D. Turner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 835–859, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-835-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-835-2018, 2018
Short summary
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This work focuses on making unambiguous measurements of Arctic cloud phase and assessing those measurements within the context of cloud radiative effects. It is found that effects related to lidar data recording systems can cause retrieval ambiguities that alter the interpretation of cloud phase in as much as 30 % of the available data. This misinterpretation of cloud-phase data can cause a misinterpretation of the effect of cloud phase on the surface radiation budget by as much as 10 to 30 %.
Sebastian Cole, Ryan R. Neely III., and Robert A. Stillwell
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1134, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1134, 2017
Preprint withdrawn
Robert A. Stillwell, Ryan R. Neely III, Jeffrey P. Thayer, Matthew D. Shupe, and Michael O'Neill
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2016-303, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2016-303, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
This work explores the observation of Arctic mixed phase clouds by lidar and the consequences of mishandling lidar signals linking the signals to their geophysical interpretation. It concludes 3 points: 1) cloud phase identification is not only linked to cloud phase but other cloud properties, 2) having more than two polarization signals can be used to quality control data not possible with only two signals, and 3) phase retrievals with more than two polarizations enhance retrieval flexibility.
S. M. Spuler, K. S. Repasky, B. Morley, D. Moen, M. Hayman, and A. R. Nehrir
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 1073–1087, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-1073-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-1073-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
A water vapor lidar has been designed and tested which has the potential to enable a national-scale network. The system is low-maintenance, low-cost, eye-safe, and provides continuous profiles of water vapor with complete coverage, including periods of daytime bright clouds, from 300m above ground level to 4km with 150m nominal vertical resolution and 1 min temporal resolution. The sensor may be useful in improving our understanding of the distribution of atmospheric water vapor.
W. A. Cooper, S. M. Spuler, M. Spowart, D. H. Lenschow, and R. B. Friesen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 3215–3231, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3215-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3215-2014, 2014
Related subject area
Subject: Gases | Technique: Remote Sensing | Topic: Instruments and Platforms
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Expanding Observational Capabilities of A Diode-Laser-Based Lidar Through Shot-To-Shot Modification of Laser Pulse Characteristics
Retrieval simulations of a spaceborne differential absorption radar near the 380 GHz water vapor line
SORAS (Stratospheric Ozone RAdiometer in Seoul), a ground-based 110 GHz microwave radiometer for measuring the stratospheric ozone vertical profile
Study of NO2 and HCHO vertical profile measurement based on fast synchronous multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (FS MAX-DOAS)
Comparison of total ozone measurements in Melbourne, Australia, performed with a low-cost micro spectrometer and a Brewer MK-III
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Novel use of an adapted ultraviolet double monochromator for measurements of global and direct irradiance, ozone, and aerosol
Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) polarization characteristics and correction algorithm
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Open-path measurement of stable water isotopologues using mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy
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The impact of aerosol fluorescence on long-term water vapor monitoring by Raman lidar and evaluation of a potential correction method
Integrated airborne investigation of the air composition over the Russian sector of the Arctic
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Ground-based Ku-band microwave observations of ozone in the polar middle atmosphere
Traceable total ozone column retrievals from direct solar spectral irradiance measurements in the ultraviolet
Far-ultraviolet airglow remote sensing measurements on Feng Yun 3-D meteorological satellite
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Prajjwal Rawat, James H. Crawford, Katherine R. Travis, Laura M. Judd, Mary Angelique G. Demetillo, Lukas C. Valin, James J. Szykman, Andrew Whitehill, Eric Baumann, and Thomas F. Hanisco
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 2899–2917, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-2899-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-2899-2025, 2025
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The Pandonia Global Network (PGN) consists of Pandora spectrometers that observe trace gases at a high time resolution to validate satellite observations and understand local air quality. To aid users, PGN assigns quality flags that assure scientifically valid data but eliminate large amounts of data appropriate for scientific applications. A new method based on contemporaneous data in two independent observation modes is proven using complementary ground-based and airborne observations.
Joel F. Campbell, Bing Lin, and Zhaoyan Liu
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EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1071, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1071, 2025
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Greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 drive climate change. Satellites enable monitoring of these emissions from space. Our simulations show that the upcoming TANGO mission can detect about 500 targets per 4-day cycle under clear skies, but cloud cover reduces detection. Integrating cloud forecasts into TANGO’s maneuvering boosts detections, highlighting its potential for improving global emission monitoring.
Robert A. Stillwell, Adam Karboski, Matthew Hayman, and Scott M. Spuler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1288, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1288, 2025
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A method is introduced to expand the observational capability of a diode-laser-based lidar system. This method allows the lidar transmitter to change the laser pulse characteristics from one shot to the next. We use this capability to lower the minimum altitude of observation and also used it to observe clouds with higher range resolution.
Luis F. Millán, Matthew D. Lebsock, and Marcin J. Kurowski
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This study explores the potential of a hypothetical spaceborne radar to observe water vapor within clouds.
Soohyun Ka and Jung Jin Oh
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1283–1299, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1283-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1283-2025, 2025
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We developed a ground-based 110.836 GHz radiometer developed to measure the stratospheric ozone profile over Seoul, South Korea. To ensure precise measurements and correct the atmospheric spectrum, we employed hot–cold calibration along with continuous tipping curve calibration. Prior to the retrieval process, both pointing and frequency offsets were corrected. We provide stratospheric ozone profiles from 2016 to 2021, which are compared with collocated satellite observations.
Jiangman Xu, Ang Li, Zhaokun Hu, Hairong Zhang, and Min Qin
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 865–879, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-865-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-865-2025, 2025
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This article introduces an experimental system for rapidly acquiring trace gas profiles using multi-channel spectroscopy, significantly enhancing the time resolution of spectral collection. The fast synchronous multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (FS MAX-DOAS) successfully obtains gas profiles. This work can also be integrated with mobile platforms for navigational observation research, which is crucial for making mobile MAX-DOAS profile measurements.
Kåre Edvardsen, Matt Tully, and Steve Rhodes
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-87, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-87, 2025
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A new, low-cost instrument for measuring total column ozone was tested against a MK III Brewer spectrophotometer for six months. Using the "Global Irradiance" method from the Norwegian GUV network, it showed ozone values matching Direct Sun Brewer measurements with a 1.8 % standard deviation. Despite temperature and cloud dependencies, the instrument is robust and easy to use. Fully coverage of the UV-A/B spectrum allows for further UV-radiation analysis. Total cost is less than EUR 3000.
Lorenzo Guerrieri, Stefano Corradini, Luca Merucci, Dario Stelitano, Fred Prata, Linda Lambertucci, Camilo Naranjo, and Riccardo Biondi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-63, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-63, 2025
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This work presents a new simplified ground based Thermal InfraRed (TIR) system capable to detect and retrieve volcanic emissions during both day and night. Knowing the location of the instrument and the crater, it is possible to compute the geometry (height and thickness) of a volcanic plume. Furthermore, thanks to a specific filter positioned in front of one of the TIR cameras, it is possible to compute the sulfur dioxide (SO2) content emitted by the volcano at a safe distance from the vent.
Guangqiang Fan, Yibin Fu, Juntao Huo, Yan Xiang, Tianshu Zhang, Wenqing Liu, and Zhi Ning
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 443–453, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-443-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-443-2025, 2025
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Our research introduces a differential absorption lidar system for monitoring tropospheric ozone, utilizing a single CO2 Raman cell. This technology enables the acquisition of high-resolution vertical ozone profiles from 0.3 to 4 km, essential for understanding air quality and climate impacts.
Fernando Chouza, Thierry Leblanc, Patrick Wang, Steven S. Brown, Kristen Zuraski, Wyndom Chace, Caroline C. Womack, Jeff Peischl, John Hair, Taylor Shingler, and John Sullivan
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 405–419, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-405-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-405-2025, 2025
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The JPL lidar group developed the SMOL (Small Mobile Ozone Lidar), an affordable ozone differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system covering all altitudes from 200 m to 10 km a.g.l. The comparison with airborne in situ and lidar measurements shows very good agreement. An additional comparison with nearby surface ozone measuring instruments indicates unbiased measurements by the SMOL lidars down to 200 m a.g.l.
Lara Noppen, Lieven Clarisse, Frederik Tack, Thomas Ruhtz, Martin Van Damme, Michel Van Roozendael, Dirk Schuettemeyer, and Pierre Coheur
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3455, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3455, 2025
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Current infrared satellite sounders offer high spectral but low spatial resolution, limiting their ability to quantify atmospheric ammonia (NH3) at small scales. Through simulations and analysis of real data, we show that NH3 can be measured effectively from spectra with reduced resolution, either in a contiguous spectral range or in select well-chosen bands. This approach opens possibilities for the development of smaller dedicated instruments for observing NH3 at high spatial resolution.
Christoph Kiemle, Andreas Fix, Christian Fruck, Gerhard Ehret, and Martin Wirth
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 6569–6578, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6569-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6569-2024, 2024
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Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas modified by human activities after carbon dioxide and methane. This study examines the feasibility of airborne differential absorption lidar to quantify emissions from agriculture, fossil fuel combustion, industry, and biomass burning. Simulations show that a technically realizable and affordable mid-infrared lidar system will be able to measure the nitrous oxide column concentration enhancements with sufficient precision.
Marie Lothon, François Gheusi, Fabienne Lohou, Véronique Pont, Serge Soula, Corinne Jambert, Solène Derrien, Yannick Bezombes, Emmanuel Leclerc, Gilles Athier, Antoine Vial, Alban Philibert, Bernard Campistron, Frédérique Saïd, Jeroen Sonke, Julien Amestoy, Erwan Bargain, Pierre Bosser, Damien Boulanger, Guillaume Bret, Renaud Bodichon, Laurent Cabanas, Guylaine Canut, Jean-Bernard Estrampes, Eric Gardrat, Zaida Gomez Kuri, Jérémy Gueffier, Fabienne Guesdon, Morgan Lopez, Olivier Masson, Pierre-Yves Meslin, Yves Meyerfeld, Nicolas Pascal, Eric Pique, Michel Ramonet, Felix Starck, and Romain Vidal
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 6265–6300, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6265-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6265-2024, 2024
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The Pyrenean Platform for Observation of the Atmosphere (P2OA) is a coupled plain–mountain instrumented platform in southwestern France for the monitoring of climate variables and the study of meteorological processes in a mountainous region. A comprehensive description of this platform is presented for the first time: its instrumentation, the associated dataset, and a meteorological characterization the site. The potential of the P2OA is illustrated through several examples of process studies.
Johannes Speidel, Hannes Vogelmann, Andreas Behrendt, Diego Lange, Matthias Mauder, Jens Reichardt, and Kevin Wolz
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-168, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-168, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for AMT
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Humidity transport from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere is relevant for many processes. However, knowledge on the actual distribution of humidity concentrations is sparse – mainly due to technological limitations. With the herein presented lidar, it is possible to measure humidity concentrations and their vertical fluxes up to altitudes of >3 km with high spatio-temporal resolution, opening new possibilities for detailed process understanding and, ultimately, better model representation.
Karolin Voss, Philip Holzbeck, Klaus Pfeilsticker, Ralph Kleinschek, Gerald Wetzel, Blanca Fuentes Andrade, Michael Höpfner, Jörn Ungermann, Björn-Martin Sinnhuber, and André Butz
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 4507–4528, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4507-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4507-2024, 2024
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A novel balloon-borne instrument for direct sun and solar occultation measurements of several UV–Vis absorbing gases (e.g. O3, NO2, BrO, IO, and HONO) is described. Its major design features and performance during two stratospheric deployments are discussed. From the measured overhead BrO concentration and a suitable photochemical correction, total stratospheric bromine is inferred to (17.5 ± 2.2) ppt in air masses which entered the stratosphere around early 2017 ± 1 year.
Mark Weber
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3597–3604, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3597-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3597-2024, 2024
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We investigate how stable the performance of a satellite instrument has to be to be useful for assessing long-term trends in stratospheric ozone. The stability of an instrument is specified in percent per decade and is also called instrument drift. Instrument drifts add to uncertainties of long-term trends. From simulated time series of ozone based on the Monte Carlo approach, we determine stability requirements that are needed to achieve the desired long-term trend uncertainty.
Zhaoyan Liu, Bing Lin, Joel F. Campbell, Jirong Yu, Jihong Geng, and Shibin Jiang
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2977–2990, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2977-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2977-2024, 2024
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We introduce a concept utilizing a differential absorption barometric lidar operating within the 1.96 µm CO2 absorption band. Our focus is on a compact lidar configuration, featuring reduced telescope size and lower laser pulse energies towards minimizing costs for potential forthcoming Mars missions. The core measurement objectives encompass the determination of column CO2 absorption optical depth and abundance, surface air pressure, and vertical distributions of dust and cloud layers.
Jean-Philippe W. MacLean, Marianne Girard, Dylan Jervis, David Marshall, Jason McKeever, Antoine Ramier, Mathias Strupler, Ewan Tarrant, and David Young
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 863–874, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-863-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-863-2024, 2024
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We demonstrate the capabilities of the GHGSat satellite constellation to detect and quantify offshore methane emissions using a sun glint observation mode. Using this technique, we observe offshore methane emissions from space ranging from 180 kg h−1 to 84 000 kg h−1. We further assess the instrument performance in offshore environments, both empirically and using analytical modelling, and find that the detection limit varies with latitude and season.
Alexander Geddes, Ben Liley, Richard McKenzie, Michael Kotkamp, and Richard Querel
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 827–838, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-827-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-827-2024, 2024
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In this paper we describe a unique spectrometer that has been developed and tested over 10 years at Lauder, New Zealand. The spectrometer in question, UV2, makes alternating measurements of global UV and direct sun UV irradiance. After an assessment of the instrument performance, we compare the ozone and aerosol optical depth derived from UV2 to other independent measurements, finding excellent agreement suggesting that UV2 could supersede these measurements, particularly for ozone.
Haklim Choi, Xiong Liu, Ukkyo Jeong, Heesung Chong, Jhoon Kim, Myung Hwan Ahn, Dai Ho Ko, Dong-Won Lee, Kyung-Jung Moon, and Kwang-Mog Lee
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 145–164, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-145-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-145-2024, 2024
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GEMS is the first geostationary satellite to measure the UV--Vis region, and this paper reports the polarization characteristics of GEMS and an algorithm. We develop a polarization correction algorithm optimized for GEMS based on a look-up-table approach that simultaneously considers the polarization of incoming light and polarization sensitivity characteristics of the instrument. Pre-launch polarization error was adjusted close to zero across the spectral range after polarization correction.
Tobias D. Schmitt, Jonas Kuhn, Ralph Kleinschek, Benedikt A. Löw, Stefan Schmitt, William Cranton, Martina Schmidt, Sanam N. Vardag, Frank Hase, David W. T. Griffith, and André Butz
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 6097–6110, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-6097-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-6097-2023, 2023
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Our new observatory measures greenhouse gas concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) along a 1.55 km long light path over the city of Heidelberg, Germany. We compared our measurements with measurements that were taken at a single point at one end of our path. The two mostly agreed but show a significant difference for CO2 with certain wind directions. This is important when using greenhouse gas concentration measurements to observe greenhouse gas emissions of cities.
Kevin C. Cossel, Eleanor M. Waxman, Eli Hoenig, Daniel Hesselius, Christopher Chaote, Ian Coddington, and Nathan R. Newbury
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 5697–5707, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5697-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5697-2023, 2023
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Measurements of the emission rate of a gas or gases from point and area sources are important in a range of monitoring applications. We demonstrate a method for rapid quantification of the emission rate of multiple gases using a spatially scannable open-path sensor. The open-path spectrometer measures the total column density of gases between the spectrometer and a retroreflector mounted on an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). By scanning the UAV altitude, we can determine the total gas emissions.
Benedikt A. Löw, Ralph Kleinschek, Vincent Enders, Stanley P. Sander, Thomas J. Pongetti, Tobias D. Schmitt, Frank Hase, Julian Kostinek, and André Butz
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 5125–5144, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5125-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5125-2023, 2023
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We developed a portable spectrometer (EM27/SCA) that remotely measures greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere above a target region. The measurements can deliver insights into local emission patterns. To evaluate its performance, we set up the EM27/SCA above the Los Angeles Basin side by side with a similar non-portable instrument (CLARS-FTS). The precision is promising and the measurements are consistent with CLARS-FTS. In the future, we need to account for light scattering.
Daniel I. Herman, Griffin Mead, Fabrizio R. Giorgetta, Esther Baumann, Nathan A. Malarich, Brian R. Washburn, Nathan R. Newbury, Ian Coddington, and Kevin C. Cossel
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4053–4066, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4053-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4053-2023, 2023
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Measurements of the isotope ratio of water vapor provide information about the sources and history of water vapor at a given location, which can be used to understand the impacts of climate change on global water use. Here, we demonstrate a new method for measuring isotope ratios over long open-air paths, which can reduce sampling bias and provide more spatial averaging than standard point sensor methods. We show that this new technique has high sensitivity and accuracy.
Luca Egli, Julian Gröbner, Herbert Schill, and Eliane Maillard Barras
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2889–2902, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2889-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2889-2023, 2023
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This paper introduces a new method to retrieve total column ozone with spectral ground-based measurements from a novel array spectroradiometer. Total column ozone estimates using the small, cost-effective, and robust instrument and the new retrieval method are compared with other co-located total column ozone instruments. The comparison shows that the new system performs similarly to other well-established instruments, which require substantially more maintenance than the system introduced here.
Frank Werner, Nathaniel J. Livesey, Luis F. Millán, William G. Read, Michael J. Schwartz, Paul A. Wagner, William H. Daffer, Alyn Lambert, Sasha N. Tolstoff, and Michelle L. Santee
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2733–2751, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2733-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2733-2023, 2023
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The algorithm that produces the near-real-time data products of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder has been updated. The new algorithm is based on machine learning techniques and yields data products with much improved accuracy. It is shown that the new algorithm outperforms the previous versions, even when it is trained on only a few years of satellite observations. This confirms the potential of applying machine learning to the near-real-time efforts of other current and future mission concepts.
Xiaoyi Zhao, Vitali Fioletov, Alberto Redondas, Julian Gröbner, Luca Egli, Franz Zeilinger, Javier López-Solano, Alberto Berjón Arroyo, James Kerr, Eliane Maillard Barras, Herman Smit, Michael Brohart, Reno Sit, Akira Ogyu, Ihab Abboud, and Sum Chi Lee
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2273–2295, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2273-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2273-2023, 2023
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The Brewer ozone spectrophotometer is one of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW)'s standard ozone monitoring instruments since the 1980s. This work is aimed at obtaining answers to (1) why Brewer primary calibration work can only be performed at certain sites (e.g., Izaña and MLO) and (2) what is needed to assure the equivalence of calibration quality from different sites.
Elion Daniel Hack, Theotonio Pauliquevis, Henrique Melo Jorge Barbosa, Marcia Akemi Yamasoe, Dimitri Klebe, and Alexandre Lima Correia
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 1263–1278, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1263-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1263-2023, 2023
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Water vapor is a key factor when seeking to understand fast-changing processes when clouds and storms form and develop. We show here how images from a calibrated infrared camera can be used to derive how much water vapor there is in the atmosphere at a given time. Comparing our results to an established technique, for a case of stable atmospheric conditions, we found an agreement within 2.8 %. Water vapor sky maps can be retrieved every few minutes, day or night, under partly cloudy skies.
Kai Wu, Paul I. Palmer, Dien Wu, Denis Jouglet, Liang Feng, and Tom Oda
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 581–602, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-581-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-581-2023, 2023
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We evaluate the theoretical ability of the upcoming MicroCarb satellite to estimate urban CO2 emissions over Paris and London. We explore the relative performance of alternative two-sweep and three-sweep city observing modes and take into account the impacts of cloud cover and urban biological CO2 fluxes. Our results find both the two-sweep and three-sweep observing modes are able to reduce prior flux errors by 20 %–40 % depending on the prevailing wind direction and cloud coverage.
Simon Leitner, Wendelin Feichtinger, Stefan Mayer, Florian Mayer, Dustin Krompetz, Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, and Andrea Watzinger
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 513–527, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-513-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-513-2023, 2023
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An increased social environmental awareness requires the monitoring of greenhouse gases (GHGs). We report on the development of two sampling devices (which can be mounted to a drone) and the subsequent measurement setup to analyse these gases. The functionality of the presented system was tested in the field, and the results emphasised the functionality of the sampling and measurement setup, demonstrating that it is a viable tool for monitoring GHGs and identifying their emission sources.
Sean Crowell, Tobias Haist, Michael Tscherpel, Jérôme Caron, Eric Burgh, and Berrien Moore III
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 195–208, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-195-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-195-2023, 2023
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Variations in brightness in radiance measurements cause errors that can be mitigated with hardware that scrambles the pattern of the incoming light. GeoCarb took this route to minimize this source of errors, but lab testing determined that the solution chosen was too sensitive to the the polarization of the incoming light. Modeling found that this was a predictable result of using gold coatings in the design, which is typical of spaceflight optical instruments.
Emily Bell, Christopher W. O'Dell, Thomas E. Taylor, Aronne Merrelli, Robert R. Nelson, Matthäus Kiel, Annmarie Eldering, Robert Rosenberg, and Brendan Fisher
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 109–133, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-109-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-109-2023, 2023
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A small percentage of data from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3) instrument has been shown to have a geometry-related bias in the earliest public data release. This work shows that the bias is due to a complex interplay of aerosols and viewing geometry and is largely mitigated in the latest data version through improved bias correction and quality filtering.
Hiroshi Suto, Fumie Kataoka, Robert O. Knuteson, Kei Shiomi, Nobuhiro Kikuchi, and Akihiko Kuze
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 5399–5413, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5399-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5399-2022, 2022
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TANSO-FTS-2 onboard GOSAT-2 has operated nominally since February 2019, and the atmospheric radiance spectra it has acquired have been released to the public. This paper describes an updated model for spectral radiance calibration of TIR and its validation. The multi-satellite sensor and multi-angle comparison results suggest that the spectral radiance for TANSO-FTS-2 TIR, version v210210, is superior to that of the previous version in its consistency of multi-satellite sensor data.
Rory A. Barton-Grimley, Amin R. Nehrir, Susan A. Kooi, James E. Collins, David B. Harper, Anthony Notari, Joseph Lee, Joshua P. DiGangi, Yonghoon Choi, and Kenneth J. Davis
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4623–4650, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4623-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4623-2022, 2022
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HALO is a multi-functional lidar that measures CH4 columns and profiles of H2O mixing ratio and aerosol/cloud optical properties. HALO supports carbon cycle, weather dynamics, and radiation science suborbital research and is a technology testbed for future space-based differential absorption lidar missions. In 2019 HALO collected CH4 columns and aerosol/cloud profiles during the ACT-America campaign. Here we assess HALO's CH4 accuracy and precision compared to co-located in situ observations.
Aaron Pearlman, Monica Cook, Boryana Efremova, Francis Padula, Lok Lamsal, Joel McCorkel, and Joanna Joiner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4489–4501, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4489-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4489-2022, 2022
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NOAA’s Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) constellation is planned to consist of an atmospheric composition instrument (ACX) to support air quality forecasting and monitoring. As design trade-offs are being studied, we investigated one parameter, the polarization sensitivity, which has yet to be fully documented for NO2 retrievals. Our simulation study explores these impacts to inform the ACX’s development and better understand polarization’s role in trace gas retrievals.
Fernando Chouza, Thierry Leblanc, Mark Brewer, Patrick Wang, Giovanni Martucci, Alexander Haefele, Hélène Vérèmes, Valentin Duflot, Guillaume Payen, and Philippe Keckhut
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4241–4256, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4241-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4241-2022, 2022
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The comparison of water vapor lidar measurements with co-located radiosondes and aerosol backscatter profiles indicates that laser-induced aerosol fluorescence in smoke layers injected into the stratosphere can introduce very large and chronic wet biases above 15 km, thus impacting the ability of these systems to accurately estimate long-term water vapor trends. The proposed correction method presented in this work is able to reduce this fluorescence-induced bias from 75 % to under 5 %.
Boris D. Belan, Gerard Ancellet, Irina S. Andreeva, Pavel N. Antokhin, Viktoria G. Arshinova, Mikhail Y. Arshinov, Yurii S. Balin, Vladimir E. Barsuk, Sergei B. Belan, Dmitry G. Chernov, Denis K. Davydov, Alexander V. Fofonov, Georgii A. Ivlev, Sergei N. Kotel'nikov, Alexander S. Kozlov, Artem V. Kozlov, Katharine Law, Andrey V. Mikhal'chishin, Igor A. Moseikin, Sergei V. Nasonov, Philippe Nédélec, Olesya V. Okhlopkova, Sergei E. Ol'kin, Mikhail V. Panchenko, Jean-Daniel Paris, Iogannes E. Penner, Igor V. Ptashnik, Tatyana M. Rasskazchikova, Irina K. Reznikova, Oleg A. Romanovskii, Alexander S. Safatov, Denis E. Savkin, Denis V. Simonenkov, Tatyana K. Sklyadneva, Gennadii N. Tolmachev, Semyon V. Yakovlev, and Polina N. Zenkova
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 3941–3967, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3941-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3941-2022, 2022
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The change of the global climate is most pronounced in the Arctic, where the air temperature increases faster than the global average. This is associated with an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is important to study how the air composition in the Arctic changes in the changing climate. Thus this integrated experiment was carried out to measure the composition of the troposphere in the Russian sector of the Arctic from on board the aircraft laboratory.
Daochun Yu, Haitao Li, Baoquan Li, Mingyu Ge, Youli Tuo, Xiaobo Li, Wangchen Xue, Yaning Liu, Aoying Wang, Yajun Zhu, and Bingxian Luo
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 3141–3159, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3141-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3141-2022, 2022
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In this work, the measurement of vertical atmospheric density profiles using X-ray Earth occultation is investigated. The Earth’s density profile for the lower thermosphere is obtained with Insight-HXMT. It is shown that the Insight-HXMT X-ray satellite of China can be used as an X-ray atmospheric diagnostics instrument for the upper atmosphere. The Insight-HXMT satellite can, with other X-ray astronomical satellites in orbit, form a network for X-ray Earth occultation sounding in the future.
Jörn Ungermann, Anne Kleinert, Guido Maucher, Irene Bartolomé, Felix Friedl-Vallon, Sören Johansson, Lukas Krasauskas, and Tom Neubert
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2503–2530, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2503-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2503-2022, 2022
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GLORIA is a 2-D infrared imaging spectrometer operated on two high-flying research aircraft. This paper details our instrument calibration and characterization efforts, which in particular leverage in-flight data almost exclusively and often exploit the novel 2-D nature of the measurements. We show that the instrument surpasses the original instrument specifications and conclude by analyzing how the derived errors affect temperature and ozone retrievals, two of our main derived quantities.
Carlos Alberti, Frank Hase, Matthias Frey, Darko Dubravica, Thomas Blumenstock, Angelika Dehn, Paolo Castracane, Gregor Surawicz, Roland Harig, Bianca C. Baier, Caroline Bès, Jianrong Bi, Hartmut Boesch, André Butz, Zhaonan Cai, Jia Chen, Sean M. Crowell, Nicholas M. Deutscher, Dragos Ene, Jonathan E. Franklin, Omaira García, David Griffith, Bruno Grouiez, Michel Grutter, Abdelhamid Hamdouni, Sander Houweling, Neil Humpage, Nicole Jacobs, Sujong Jeong, Lilian Joly, Nicholas B. Jones, Denis Jouglet, Rigel Kivi, Ralph Kleinschek, Morgan Lopez, Diogo J. Medeiros, Isamu Morino, Nasrin Mostafavipak, Astrid Müller, Hirofumi Ohyama, Paul I. Palmer, Mahesh Pathakoti, David F. Pollard, Uwe Raffalski, Michel Ramonet, Robbie Ramsay, Mahesh Kumar Sha, Kei Shiomi, William Simpson, Wolfgang Stremme, Youwen Sun, Hiroshi Tanimoto, Yao Té, Gizaw Mengistu Tsidu, Voltaire A. Velazco, Felix Vogel, Masataka Watanabe, Chong Wei, Debra Wunch, Marcia Yamasoe, Lu Zhang, and Johannes Orphal
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2433–2463, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2433-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2433-2022, 2022
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Space-borne greenhouse gas missions require ground-based validation networks capable of providing fiducial reference measurements. Here, considerable refinements of the calibration procedures for the COllaborative Carbon Column Observing Network (COCCON) are presented. Laboratory and solar side-by-side procedures for the characterization of the spectrometers have been refined and extended. Revised calibration factors for XCO2, XCO and XCH4 are provided, incorporating 47 new spectrometers.
David A. Newnham, Mark A. Clilverd, William D. J. Clark, Michael Kosch, Pekka T. Verronen, and Alan E. E. Rogers
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2361–2376, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2361-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2361-2022, 2022
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Ozone (O3) is an important trace gas in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT), affecting heating rates and chemistry. O3 profiles measured by the Ny-Ålesund Ozone in the Mesosphere Instrument agree with Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) for winter night-time, but autumn twilight SABER abundances are up to 50 % higher. O3 abundances in the MLT from two different SABER channels also show significant differences for both autumn twilight and summer daytime.
Luca Egli, Julian Gröbner, Gregor Hülsen, Herbert Schill, and René Stübi
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1917–1930, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1917-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1917-2022, 2022
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This study presents traceable total column ozone retrievals from direct solar spectral irradiance measurements. The retrieved ozone does not require any field calibration with a reference instrument as it is required for other operational network instruments such as Brewer or Dobson. Total column ozone can be retrieved with a traceable overall standard uncertainty of less than 0.8 % indicating a benchmark uncertainty for total column ozone measurements.
Yungang Wang, Liping Fu, Fang Jiang, Xiuqing Hu, Chengbao Liu, Xiaoxin Zhang, Jiawei Li, Zhipeng Ren, Fei He, Lingfeng Sun, Ling Sun, Zhongdong Yang, Peng Zhang, Jingsong Wang, and Tian Mao
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1577–1586, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1577-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1577-2022, 2022
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Far-ultraviolet (FUV) airglow radiation is particularly well suited for space-based remote sensing. The Ionospheric Photometer (IPM) instrument carried aboard the Feng Yun 3-D satellite measures the spectral radiance of the Earth FUV airglow. IPM is a tiny, highly sensitive, and robust remote sensing instrument. Initial results demonstrate that the performance of IPM meets the designed requirement and therefore can be used to study the thermosphere and ionosphere in the future.
Leon Kuhn, Jonas Kuhn, Thomas Wagner, and Ulrich Platt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1395–1414, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1395-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1395-2022, 2022
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We present a novel instrument for imaging measurements of NO2 with high spatiotemporal resolution based on gas correlation spectroscopy, called the GCS NO2 camera. The instrument works by placing two gas cells (cuvettes) in front of two photosensor arrays, one filled with air and one filled with a high concentration of NO2, acting as a non-dispersive spectral filter. NO2 images are then generated on the basis of the signal ratio of the two channels in the spectral region of 430–445 nm.
Tobias Küchler, Stefan Noël, Heinrich Bovensmann, John Philip Burrows, Thomas Wagner, Christian Borger, Tobias Borsdorff, and Andreas Schneider
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 297–320, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-297-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-297-2022, 2022
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We applied the air-mass-corrected differential optical absorption spectroscopy (AMC-DOAS) method to derive total column water vapour (TCWV) from Sentinel-5P measurements and compared it to independent data sets. The correlation coefficients of typically more than 0.9 and the small deviations up to 2.5 kg m−2 reveal good agreement between our data product and other TCWV data sets. In particular for the different Sentinel-5P water vapour products, the deviations are around 1 kg m−2.
Jonas Kuhn, Nicole Bobrowski, Thomas Wagner, and Ulrich Platt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7873–7892, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7873-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7873-2021, 2021
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We propose spectrograph implementations using Fabry–Pérot interferometers for atmospheric trace gas remote sensing. Compared with widely used grating spectrographs, we find substantial light throughput and mobility advantages for high resolving powers. Besides lowering detection limits and increasing the spatial and temporal resolution of many atmospheric trace gas measurements, this approach might enable remote sensing of further important gases such as tropospheric OH radicals.
King-Fai Li, Ryan Khoury, Thomas J. Pongetti, Stanley P. Sander, Franklin P. Mills, and Yuk L. Yung
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7495–7510, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7495-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7495-2021, 2021
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Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) plays a dominant role in the stratospheric ozone-destroying catalytic cycle. We have retrieved the diurnal cycle of NO2 over Table Mountain in Southern California, USA, during a week in October 2018. Under clean conditions, we are able to predict the diurnal cycle using standard photochemistry. On a day with significant pollution, we see the effect of NO2 sources in the nearby Los Angeles Basin.
Ulrich Platt, Thomas Wagner, Jonas Kuhn, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6867–6883, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6867-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6867-2021, 2021
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Absorption spectroscopy of scattered sunlight is extremely useful for the analysis of atmospheric trace gas distributions. A central parameter for the achievable sensitivity of spectroscopic instruments is the light throughput, which can be enhanced in a number of ways. We present new ideas and considerations of how instruments could be optimized. Particular emphasis is on arrays of massively parallel instruments. Such arrays can reduce the size and weight of instruments by orders of magnitude.
Jonas Hamperl, Clément Capitaine, Jean-Baptiste Dherbecourt, Myriam Raybaut, Patrick Chazette, Julien Totems, Bruno Grouiez, Laurence Régalia, Rosa Santagata, Corinne Evesque, Jean-Michel Melkonian, Antoine Godard, Andrew Seidl, Harald Sodemann, and Cyrille Flamant
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6675–6693, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6675-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6675-2021, 2021
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Laser active remote sensing of tropospheric water vapor is a promising technology for enhancing our understanding of processes governing the global hydrological cycle. We investigate the potential of a ground-based lidar to monitor the main water vapor isotopes at high spatio-temporal resolutions in the lower troposphere. Using a realistic end-to-end simulator, we show that high-precision measurements can be achieved within a range of 1.5 km, in mid-latitude or tropical environments.
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Short summary
Continuous water vapor and temperature profiles are critically needed for improved understanding of the lower atmosphere and potential advances in weather forecasting skill. To address this observation need, an active remote sensing technology based on a diode-laser-based lidar architecture is being developed. We discuss the details of the lidar architecture and analyze how it addresses a national-scale profiling network's need to provide continuous thermodynamic observations.
Continuous water vapor and temperature profiles are critically needed for improved understanding...
