Simulation of sub-millimetre atmospheric spectra for characterizing potential ground-based remote sensing observations

Turner, Emma C.; Withington, Stafford; Newnham, David A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8422-1289; Wadhams, Peter; Jones, Anna E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2040-4841; Clancy, Robin. 2016 Simulation of sub-millimetre atmospheric spectra for characterizing potential ground-based remote sensing observations. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 9. 5461-5485. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5461-2016

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Official URL: http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/9/5461/2016/

Abstract/Summary

The sub-millimetre is an understudied region of the Earth's atmospheric electromagnetic spectrum. Prior technological gaps and relatively high opacity due to the prevalence of rotational water vapour lines at these wavelengths have slowed progress from a ground-based remote sensing perspective; however, emerging superconducting detector technologies in the fields of astronomy offer the potential to address key atmospheric science challenges with new instrumental methods. A site study, with a focus on the polar regions, is performed to assess theoretical feasibility by simulating the downwelling clear-sky sub-millimetre spectrum from 30 mm (10 GHz) to 150 μm (2000 GHz) at six locations under annual mean, summer, winter, daytime, nighttime and low humidity conditions. Vertical profiles of temperature, pressure and 28 atmospheric gases are constructed by combining radiosonde, meteorological reanalysis, and atmospheric chemistry model data. The sensitivity of the simulated spectra to the choice of water vapour continuum model and spectroscopic line database is explored. For the atmospheric trace species hypobromous acid (HOBr), hydrogen bromide (HBr), perhydroxyl radical (HO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) the emission lines producing the largest change in brightness temperature are identified. Signal strengths, centre frequencies, bandwidths, estimated minimum integration times and maximum receiver noise temperatures are determined for all cases. HOBr, HBr and HO2 produce brightness temperature peaks in the mK to K range, whereas the N2O peaks are in the K range. The optimal sub-millimetre remote sensing lines for the four species are shown to vary significantly between location and scenario, strengthening the case for future hyperspectral instruments that measure over a broad wavelength range. The techniques presented here provide a framework that can be applied to additional species of interest and taken forward to simulate retrievals and guide the design of future sub-millimetre instruments.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5461-2016
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Atmosphere, Ice and Climate
ISSN:	1867-8610
Date made live:	19 Jul 2016 12:35 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513993

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5461-2016

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Atmosphere, Ice and Climate

ISSN:

1867-8610

Date made live:

19 Jul 2016 12:35 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513993