Determining the Vertical Profile of the Greenhouse-Gas Concentration in the Atmosphere up to 80 km on the Satellite-to-Earth Radio Translucence

Abstract

This article discusses methods for determining trace gases in the Earth’s atmosphere based on radio translucence of the satellite–Earth or Earth–satellite–Earth route using monochromatic radiation at a given frequency set. The substantiation of a new method using the difference of differential signals on different slopes of the absorption line of the measured gas is carried out, which allows one to increase the spatial selectivity of the measurements and reduce the influence of clouds, precipitation, and third-party gases. The results of calculating the kernels of integral equations when measuring the profile of water vapor in the absorption band of 22.23 GHz are presented. The selectivity of the kernels makes it possible to restore the water-vapor profile both in the lower troposphere layer to heights of 8 km and in the 30–80 km layer. The advantage of the proposed methods is the differential nature of the measurements, which does not require absolute calibration of sources and long-term stability of the equipment. In addition, it becomes possible to register small-scale and rapidly varying processes occurring during the revolution of the satellite in orbit on a spatial scale of 2–10 km. It is precisely this scale of spatiotemporal changes in the concentration of greenhouse gases that can be expected during technological accidents, missile launches, and other anthropogenic influences.