P. Ricaud

Moliere (v5): a versatile forward- and inversion model for the millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength range

Abstract Recent advancements in the development of passive millimeter and sub-millimeter wave heterodyne techniques for ground-based, air-borne, and space-borne observations of key parameters in Earths middle atmosphere have triggered the development of adequate data analysis methods and models. This paper provides a detailed description of the versatile forward- and inversion-model for the millimeter- and sub-millimeter wavelength range, MOLIERE (v5) (Microwave Observation LIne Estimation and REtrieval, version 5). Present applications of the model include data analysis for ground-based and space-borne heterodyne instruments such as the sub-millimeter radiometer (SMR) on board the Odin satellite as well as definition studies for future limb sensors dedicated to Earth observation and Mars exploration. The physical and mathematical basics of the forward- and retrieval-model parts are presented. The main emphasis is then put on the description of the numerical implementation of the algorithms for radiative transfer and weighting function computations as well as on the employed method for modeling atmospheric refraction.

Polar vortex evolution during the 2002 Antarctic major warming as observed by the Odin satellite

In September 2002 the Antarctic polar vortex split in two under the influence of a sudden warming. During this event, the Odin satellite was able to measure both ozone (O3) and chlorine monoxide (ClO), a key constituent responsible for the so-called “ozone hole”, together with nitrous oxide (N2O), a dynamical tracer, and nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), tracers of denitrification. The submillimeter radiometer (SMR) microwave instrument and the Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imager System (OSIRIS) UV-visible light spectrometer (VIS) and IR instrument on board Odin have sounded the polar vortex during three different periods: before (19–20 September), during (24–25 September), and after (1–2 and 4–5 October) the vortex split. Odin observations coupled with the Reactive Processes Ruling the Ozone Budget in the Stratosphere (REPROBUS) chemical transport model at and above 500 K isentropic surfaces (heights above 18 km) reveal that on 19–20 September the Antarctic vortex was dynamically stable and chemically nominal: denitrified, with a nearly complete chlorine activation, and a 70% O3 loss at 500 K. On 25–26 September the unusual morphology of the vortex is monitored by the N2O observations. The measured ClO decay is consistent with other observations performed in 2002 and in the past. The vortex split episode is followed by a nearly complete deactivation of the ClO radicals on 1–2 October, leading to the end of the chemical O3 loss, while HNO3 and NO2 fields start increasing. This acceleration of the chlorine deactivation results from the warming of the Antarctic vortex in 2002, putting an early end to the polar stratospheric cloud season. The model simulation suggests that the vortex elongation toward regions of strong solar irradiance also favored the rapid reformation of ClONO2. The observed dynamical and chemical evolution of the 2002 polar vortex is qualitatively well reproduced by REPROBUS. Quantitative differences are mainly attributable to the too weak amounts of HNO3 in the model, which do not produce enough NO2 in presence of sunlight to deactivate chlorine as fast as observed by Odin.

Strato‐mesospheric measurements of carbon monoxide with the Odin Sub‐Millimetre Radiometer: Retrieval and first results

The Sub-Millimetre Radiometer (SMR) aboard the Odin satellite has been measuring vertical profiles of atmospheric trace gases since August 2001. We present the inversion methodology developed for CO measurements and the first retrieval results. CO can be retrieved from a single scan measurement throughout the middle atmosphere, with a typical resolution of similar to3 km and a relative error of similar to10% to similar to25%. Retrieval results are evaluated through comparison with data from the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) and observations of the Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS) on board the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS). Considering the large natural variability of CO, the SMR retrievals give good confirmation of the WACCM results, with an overall agreement within a factor of 2. ISAMS abundances are higher than SMR mixing ratios by a factor of 5-10 above 0.5 hPa from similar to80degreesS to similar to50degreesN.

Retrieval of vertical constituents and temperature profiles from passive submillimeter wave limb observations of the Martian atmosphere: a feasibility study.

The investigation of the Martian atmosphere is of key importance for an understanding of the planets present and past. Passive limb observations of thermal radiation at submillimeter wavelengths in the 320-350-GHz range by use of a state-of-the-art satellite receiver on a low Mars orbit allow important parameters such as the mixing ratios of H2O, HDO, 12CO, 13CO, O3, and H2O2 as well as the thermal profile to be retrieved with high precision and unprecedented vertical range and resolution, providing valuable information for better understanding of the planets water cycle, atmospheric dynamics, and photochemistry. The feasibility of these kinds of measurement is demonstrated by means of model simulations based on realistic atmospheric, spectroscopic, and instrumental parameters. Temperature can be retrieved to approximately 90 km with half-scale height vertical resolution from single-scan measurements of emission lines of the long-lived species 12CO and 13CO. The global water-vapor distribution can be measured even under dry or wet conditions with good vertical resolution from the surface to approximately 45 km, and simultaneous observations of HDO allow useful information on the D/H ratio up to an altitude of approximately 30 km to be derived. The sensitivity of the limb-sounding technique also permits information on the photochemically important minor species O3, and H2O2 to be obtained. It is shown that spectral averaging may improve precision, altitude range, and resolution of the retrieved profiles. Other frequency bands are explored, and the 435-465-GHz range is suggested as a possible alternative to the 320-350-GHz range.

Intercomparison of ozone profile measurements from ASUR, SCIAMACHY, MIPAS, OSIRIS, and SMR

The airborne submillimeter radiometer ( ASUR) was deployed onboard the Falcon research aircraft during the scanning imaging absorption spectrometer for atmospheric cartography ( SCIAMACHY) validation and utilization experiment ( SCIAVALUE) and the European polar stratospheric cloud and lee wave experiment ( EuPLEx) campaigns. A large number of ozone profile measurements were performed over a latitude band spanning from 5 degrees S to 80 degrees N in September 2002 and February/March 2003 during the SCIAVALUE and around the northern polar latitudes in January/February 2003 during the EuPLEx. Both missions amassed an ample microwave ozone profile data set that is used to make quantitative comparisons with satellite measurements in order to assess the quality of the satellite retrievals. In this paper, the ASUR ozone profile measurements are compared with measurements from SCIAMACHY and Michelson interferometer for passive atmospheric sounding ( MIPAS) on Environmental Satellite and optical spectrograph and infrared imager system ( OSIRIS) and submillimeter radiometer ( SMR) on the Odin satellite. The cross comparisons with the criterion that the ASUR measurements are performed within +/- 1000 km and +/- 6 hrs of the satellite observations show a good agreement with all the four satellite sensors. The differences in data values are the following: -4 to +8% for ASUR-SCIAMACHY ( operational product, v2.1), within +/- 15% for ASUR-SCIAMACHY ( scientific product, v1.62), up to +6% for ASUR-MIPAS ( operational product v4.61) and ASUR- MIPAS ( scientific product v1-O(3)-1), up to 17% for ASUR- OSIRIS ( v012), and -6 to 17% for ASUR- SMR ( v222) between the 20- and 40- km altitude range depending on latitude. Thus, the intercomparisons provide important quantitative information about the quality of the satellite ozone profiles, which has to be considered when using the data for scientific analyses.

Search for Extraterrestrial Origin of Atmospheric Trace Molecules — Radio Sub-MM Observations during the Leonids

To identify the effect of meteor showers on the molecular content of the upper atmosphere of the Earth, we have carried out ground-based observations of atmospheric HCN. HCN radio observations at CSO (Hawaii) on Nov 18/19, 1999, the night after the second Leonid shower maximum, show unusually low HCN abundances above 45 km altitude, which are only recovered after sunrise. We also investigated UARS/HALOE satellite data on H2O and O3. No correlation appears of year round H2O and O3 around 55 km with annual meteor showers, nor with meteor activity at the time of the 1998 Leonid shower.