Two linearization methods for atmospheric remote sensing

Abstract

We present two linearization methods for a pseudo-spherical atmosphere and general viewing geometries. The first approach is based on an analytical linearization of the discrete ordinate method with matrix exponential and incorporates two models for matrix exponential calculation: the matrix eigenvalue method and the Padé approximation. The second method referred to as the forward–adjoint approach is based on the adjoint radiative transfer for a pseudo-spherical atmosphere. We provide a compact description of the proposed methods as well as a numerical analysis of their accuracy and efficiency.