A. Barbe

The HITRAN molecular spectroscopic database: edition of 2000 including updates through 2001

This paper describes the status circa 2001, of the HITRAN compilation that comprises the public edition available through 2001. The HITRAN compilation consists of several components useful for radiative transfer calculation codes: high-resolution spectroscopic parameters of molecules in the gas phase, absorption cross-sections for molecules with very dense spectral features, aerosol refractive indices, ultraviolet line-by-line parameters and absorption cross-sections, and associated database management software. The line-by-line portion of the database contains spectroscopic parameters for 38 molecules and their isotopologues and isotopomers suitable for calculating atmospheric transmission and radiance properties. Many more molecular species are presented in the infrared cross-section data than in the previous edition, especially the chlorofluorocarbons and their replacement gases. There is now sufficient representation so that quasi-quantitative simulations can be obtained with the standard radiance codes. In addition to the description and justification of new or modified data that have been incorporated since the last edition of HITRAN (1996), future modifications are indicated for cases considered to have a significant impact on remote-sensing experiments

The IR acetylene spectrum in HITRAN: update and new results

The 2000 HITRAN edition, with the updates of 2001, contains improved and new data on the acetylene molecule. The main changes concern the 13.6- and 7.5-μm spectral regions (improved line intensities), and the 5-μm region (previously absent from the database). These changes are reviewed, and the key problem of the validation of line intensities is dealt with. The status of the currently available line parameters is critically examined, and recommendations for future improvements are given.