On the informativeness and optimal design of outgoing radiance measurements in problems of remote sensing of the atmosphere

Abstract

High requirements with regard to the accuracy and vertical resolution of atmospheric component retrieval has led to a new generation of devices with enhanced radiometric characteristics. However, the accuracy and spatial resolution of remote methods of atmospheric sounding depend not only on the measuring device characteristics, but on the amount and quality of a priori information used, retrieval methods, and correct optimization of the measurement design. To enhance the quality of remote sensing, it is necessary to analyze the information content and determine the optimal design of the measurements in different spectral ranges and for various retrieval problems. The information content of outgoing UV and visible radiance measurements has been examined with respect to different atmospheric parameters (O3 and NO2 content, atmospheric density and optical aerosol characteristics). Similar studies have been carried out to determine the informativeness of satellite measurements in different spectral ranges with respect to the ozone profile. It is shown that combined measurements in several spectral ranges can improve the accuracy of remote sounding in the lower stratosphere and troposphere. The informativeness and optimal spectral design of microwave (MW) (1-200 GHz) radiance measurements have been studied in the problem of temperature-humidity sounding of the atmosphere. It is shown that optimal spectral devices in the MW spectral range may improve the accuracy of the temperature retrieval (by 0.2–1 K) relative to the AMSU (Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit) radiometer.