Jeffrey R. Taylor

Ground-Based Solar Absorption FTIR Spectroscopy: Characterization of Retrievals and First Results from a Novel Optical Design Instrument at a New NDACC Complementary Station

Abstract The authors describe the optical design of a high-resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), which serves as the primary instrument at the University of Toronto Atmospheric Observatory (TAO). The FTS is dedicated to ground-based infrared solar absorption atmospheric measurements from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Instrument performance is discussed in terms of instrumental line shape (ILS) and phase error and modulation efficiency as a function of optical path difference. Typical measurement parameters are presented together with retrieval parameters used to derive total and partial column concentrations of ozone. Retrievals at TAO employ the optimal estimation method (OEM), and some impacts of the necessary a priori constraints are examined. In March 2004, after participating in a retrieval algorithm user intercomparison exercise, the TAO FTS was granted the status of a Complementary Observation Station within the international community of high-resolution FTS users in the Network for the Dete...