Retrieval and Validation of Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Water Vapor for the Canary Islands IR-Laser Occultation Experiment

Authors

V. Proschek
G. Kirchengast
S. Schweitzer
J.S. A. Brooke
P. F. Bernath, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
C. B. Thomas
J. G. Wang
K. A. Tereszchuk
G. González Abad
R. J. Hargreaves
C. A. Beale
J. J. Harrison
P. A. Martin
V. L. Kasyutich
C. Gerbig
O. Kolle
A. Loescher

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

DOI

10.5194/amt-8-3315-2015

Publication Title

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques

Volume

8

Issue

8

Pages

3315-3336

Abstract

The first ground-based experiment to prove the concept of a novel space-based observation technique for microwave and infrared-laser occultation between low-Earthorbit satellites was performed in the Canary Islands between La Palma and Tenerife. For two nights from 21 to 22 July 2011 the experiment delivered the infrared-laser differential transmission principle for the measurement of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the free atmosphere. Such global and long-term stable measurements of GHGs, accompanied also by measurements of thermodynamic parameters and line-of-sight wind in a self-calibrating way, have become very important for climate change monitoring. The experiment delivered promising initial data for demonstrating the new observation concept by retrieving volume mixing ratios of GHGs along a ~ 144 km signal path at altitudes of ~ 2.4 km. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the measurements, following a recent publication that introduced the experiment's technical setup and first results for an example retrieval of CO₂. We present the observational and validation data sets, the latter simultaneously measured at the transmitter and receiver sites; the measurement data handling; and the differential transmission retrieval procedure. We also determine the individual and combined uncertainties influencing the results and present the retrieval results for ¹²CO₂, ¹³CO₂, C¹⁸OO, H₂O and CH₄. The new method is found to have a reliable basis for monitoring of greenhouse gases such as CO₂, CH₄, and H₂O in the free atmosphere.

Original Publication Citation

Proschek, V., Kirchengast, G., Schweitzer, S., Brooke, J.S.A., Bernath, P.F., Thomas, C.B., . . . Loescher, A. (2015). Retrieval and validation of carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor for the Canary Islands IR-laser occultation experiment. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 8(8), 3315-3336. doi: 10.5194/amt-8-3315-2015

ORCID

0000-0002-1255-396X (Bernath)

Repository Citation

Proschek, V.; Kirchengast, G.; Schweitzer, S.; Brooke, J.S. A.; Bernath, P. F.; Thomas, C. B.; Wang, J. G.; Tereszchuk, K. A.; González Abad, G.; Hargreaves, R. J.; Beale, C. A.; Harrison, J. J.; Martin, P. A.; Kasyutich, V. L.; Gerbig, C.; Kolle, O.; and Loescher, A., "Retrieval and Validation of Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Water Vapor for the Canary Islands IR-Laser Occultation Experiment" (2015). Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications. 31.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chemistry_fac_pubs/31