Ozone Profile Retrieval from Satellite Observation Using High Spectral Resolution Infrared Sounding Instrument

Abstract

This paper presents a preliminary result on the retrieval of atmospheric ozone profiles using an improved regression technique and utilizing the data from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS), a hyper-spectral instrument expected to be flown on the EOS-AQUA platform in 2002. Simulated AIRS spectra were used to study the sensitivity of AIRS radiance on the tropospheric and stratospheric ozone changes, and to study the impact of various channel combinations on the ozone profile retrieval. Sensitivity study results indicate that the AIRS high resolution spectral channels between the wavenumber 650–800 cm-1 provide very useful information to accurately retrieve tropospheric and stratospheric ozone profiles. Eigenvector decomposition of AIRS spectra indicate that no more than JOO eigenvectors are needed to retrieve very accurate ozone profiles. The accuracy of the retrieved atmospheric ozone profile from the present technique and utilizing the AIRS data was compared with the accuracy obtained from current Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (A TOVS) data aboard National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites. As expected, a comparison of retrieval results confirms that the ozone profile retrieved with the AIRS data is superior to that of ATOVS.