Retrieval of vertical profiles of ozone by high-resolution FTIR spectra over Rikubetsu, Japan

Abstract

Vertical profiles of volume mixing ratios (VMRs) of ozone were retrieved from high resolution, infrared solar absorption spectra taken at Rikubetsu (43.5 °N, 143.8 °E), Japan by a ground-based Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The VMR profile retrieval is based on an iterative inversion algorithm, which utilizes a multilayer line-by-line calculations. In total, 96 ozone vertical profiles were retrieved from 48 infrared spectra by using two O3 absorption lines near 10 micron spectral region. These profiles were compared with 21 ozonesonde measurements from nearby ozone sounding stations. The two micro-window regions used for O3 profile retrievals are 1146 cm-1 and 1163 cm-1 spectral regions. Averaged discrepancies were less than ±15 % above 8 km for 1146 cm-1 retrievals, while those were less than ±11 % between 16 and 36 km for 1163 cm-1 retrievals. The standard deviation (SD) of averaged discrepancies were less than ±17 % between 16 and 36 km for 1146 cm-1 retrievals, while those were less than ±12 % between 16 and 36 km for 1163 cm-1 retrievals. In general, O3 VMR profile retrieval gives agreements within ±17 % in SD with ozonesonde measurements between 16 and 36 km altitudes.