Michelson Interferometer For Passive Atmospheric Sounding Spectra Research Articles

Global distributions of CO<sub>2</sub> volume mixing ratio in the middle and upper atmosphere from daytime MIPAS high-resolution spectra

Abstract. Global distributions of the CO2 vmr (volume mixing ratio) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (from 70 up to ∼ 140 km) have been derived from high-resolution limb emission daytime MIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding) spectra in the 4.3 µm region. This is the first time that the CO2 vmr has been retrieved in the 120–140 km range. The data set spans from January 2005 to March 2012. The retrieval of CO2 has been performed jointly with the elevation pointing of the line of sight (LOS) by using a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) retrieval scheme. The non-LTE model incorporates the new vibrational–vibrational and vibrational–translational collisional rates recently derived from the MIPAS spectra by [Jurado-Navarro et al.(2015)]. It also takes advantage of simultaneous MIPAS measurements of other atmospheric parameters (retrieved in previous steps), such as the kinetic temperature (derived up to ∼ 100 km from the CO2 15 µm region of MIPAS spectra and from 100 up to 170 km from the NO 5.3 µm emission of the same MIPAS spectra) and the O3 measurements (up to ∼ 100 km). The latter is very important for calculations of the non-LTE populations because it strongly constrains the O(3P) and O(1D) concentrations below ∼ 100 km. The estimated precision of the retrieved CO2 vmr profiles varies with altitude ranging from ∼ 1 % below 90 km to 5 % around 120 km and larger than 10 % above 130 km. There are some latitudinal and seasonal variations of the precision, which are mainly driven by the solar illumination conditions. The retrieved CO2 profiles have a vertical resolution of about 5–7 km below 120 km and between 10 and 20 km at 120–140 km. We have shown that the inclusion of the LOS as joint fit parameter improves the retrieval of CO2, allowing for a clear discrimination between the information on CO2 concentration and the LOS and also leading to significantly smaller systematic errors. The retrieved CO2 has an improved accuracy because of the new rate coefficients recently derived from MIPAS and the simultaneous MIPAS measurements of other key atmospheric parameters (retrieved in previous steps) needed for non-LTE modelling like kinetic temperature and O3 concentration. The major systematic error source is the uncertainty of the pressure/temperature profiles, inducing errors at midlatitude conditions of up to 15 % above 100 km (20 % for polar summer) and of ∼ 5 % around 80 km. The errors due to uncertainties in the O(1D) and O(3P) profiles are within 3–4 % in the 100–120 km region, and those due to uncertainties in the gain calibration and in the near-infrared solar flux are within ∼ 2 % at all altitudes. The retrieved CO2 shows the major features expected and predicted by general circulation models. In particular, its abrupt decline above 80–90 km and the seasonal change of the latitudinal distribution, with higher CO2 abundances in polar summer from 70 up to ∼ 95 km and lower CO2 vmr in the polar winter. Above ∼ 95 km, CO2 is more abundant in the polar winter than at the midlatitudes and polar summer regions, caused by the reversal of the mean circulation in that altitude region. Also, the solstice seasonal distribution, with a significant pole-to-pole CO2 gradient, lasts about 2.5 months in each hemisphere, while the seasonal transition occurs quickly.

Global distributions of acetone in the upper troposphere from MIPAS spectra

Abstract. This study reports the first global measurements of acetone (C3H6O) in the upper troposphere (UT). Profiles were obtained between 9 km and 15 km from measurements made by the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) onboard Envisat in August 2003. Errors per profile are lower than 40 % between 180 hPa and 350 hPa. We report strong hemispheric differences in the acetone volume mixing ratios (VMRs), with average concentrations highest in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) mid-latitude UT, between 1000 pptv and 1600 pptv with maxima up to 2300 pptv. Our results show a strong enhancement of acetone relative to CO, particularly over Europe (7 pptv ppbv−1), confirming aircraft studies. Ten-day backward trajectories from these high European values show strong contributions from air flows over North America (56 %) and 25 % from Southernmost Asia. Enhanced acetone is also observed over Greenland, Siberia and biomass burning regions of Africa. Zonal distributions show that acetone VMRs decrease rapidly with increasing altitude (decreasing pressure), particularly in the NH. Poleward of 45° S, acetone VMRs remain fairly consistent with average VMRs between 400 pptv and 500 pptv. In 5-day averages at 9 km, NH VMRs poleward of 45° N are consistently higher than Southern Hemisphere observations poleward of 45° S, by between 750 pptv and 1100 pptv. The results show a clear influence of mid-latitude and transport processes on the acetone summertime distribution.

Retrieving cloud geometrical extents from MIPAS/ENVISAT measurements with a 2-D tomographic approach

Clouds represent a critical factor in regulating the Earth's atmosphere and its energy balance. Satellite instruments can measure the energy balance and global atmospheric properties only through an accurate knowledge of the vertical profile of cloudiness, which is as yet one of the key shortages in atmospheric science. The Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) on-board the ENVISAT satellite, designed to infer the amount of atmospheric trace-gases, demonstrated also sensitivity to the radiation emitted from clouds. In order to model the effect of the geometrical extent of a cloud on MIPAS measurements, we developed a retrieval model capable to simulate cloud effects on broad spectral intervals accounting for the two-dimensional (2-D) variability of the atmosphere in the satellite orbit plane. The 2-D analysis revealed a sensitivity of MIPAS spectra to both the vertical and horizontal extents and the position of clouds along the instrument line of sight. One-dimensional models were found to underestimate Cloud Top Height (CTH) by approximating clouds as an infinite horizontal layer with a finite vertical extents. With the 2-D approach, we showed it is possible, for optically thin Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs), to retrieve both CTH and horizontal dimension by analyzing simultaneously all the limb observations that come across the cloud with their field of view. For a selected case study we found a very good agreement for both PSC CTH and horizontal extents retrieved from MIPAS measurements and those retrieved from coincident CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarisation) measurements.

Measurements of polar mesospheric clouds in infrared emission by MIPAS/ENVISAT

We report on the infrared emission (10–13 μm) of polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs) as measured by Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) on board the Environmental Satellite (MIPAS/ENVISAT) during 19–21 July 2005 in the summer Northern Hemisphere. The spectral distribution of MIPAS radiances is well described by that simulated for ice particle emission at low temperatures and hence provides further evidence of the water ice nature of the PMC particles. The vertical profiles of integrated radiance clearly show an emission peak at tangent heights of 81–83 km, as expected from PMC emission. Ice particles' volume density retrieved from MIPAS spectra shows a layer of ice particles extending from 80.5 to 87 km and from about 60°N to the North Pole, well confined within the region where temperature is below approximately 150 K. The upper part of the ice particle layer then extends to altitudes higher than that observed by UV/visible measurements, which confirms the current understanding that PMCs cover the entire polar mesopause region. The altitude of the layer peak changes from 82.5–83 km at 70°N–90°N to slightly higher altitudes (83–85 km) at lower latitudes (60°N–70°N). MIPAS ice particle altitude/latitude distribution suggests that they are formed mainly close to the pole and then are transported upward and to lower latitudes by the ascending branch of the meridional circulation, confirming previous modeling.

Atmospheric non-local thermodynamic equilibrium emissions as observed by the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS)

In this article we report the most recent advances of our knowledge of non-LTE atmospheric emissions gained from the MIPAS spectra on the Envisat satellite. These include improvements in our knowledge: of the collisional processes between the CO 2 (10 01), (02 21), and (02 01) vibrational levels; of the nascent distribution and collisional relaxation of the O 3 vibrational states; and of the vibrational–vibrational energy transfer rates between H 2O(020) and O 2. In addition we report: the first evidence of mesospheric CH 4 ν 4 7.6-μm emission; much lower non-LTE populations of the NO 2 ( v 3 = 1 – 4 ) in the daytime stratosphere than previously thought; the first experimental confirmation of the non-LTE excitation of NO(1) in the daytime stratosphere; and the first detection of the CO first hot band non-LTE emission near 4.7 μm. To cite this article: M. López-Puertas et al., C. R. Physique 6 (2005).