Accession Number:
ADA439183
Title:
Retrieval of Mesospheric and Lower Thermospheric Kinetic Temperature from Measurements of CO2 15 Micrometers Earth Limb Emission under Non-LTE Conditions
Descriptive Note:
Journal article
Corporate Author:
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB HANSCOM AFB MA SPACE VEHICLES DIRECTORATE
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
2000-12-14
Pagination or Media Count:
5.0
Abstract:
We present a new algorithm for the retrieval of kinetic temperature in the terrestrial mesosphere and lower thermosphere from measurements of CO2 15 micrometers earth limb emission. Non-local-thermodynamic- equilibrium non-LTE processes are rigorously included in the new algorithm, necessitated by the prospect of satellite-based limb radiance measurements to be made from the TIMEDSABER platform in the near future between 15 km and 120 km tangent altitude. The algorithm requires 20 seconds to retrieve temperature to better than 3 K accuracy on a desktop computer, easily enabling its use in operational processing of satellite data. We conclude this letter with a study of the sensitivity of the retrieved temperatures to parameters used in the non-LTE models, including sensitivity to the rate constant for physical quenching of CO2 bending mode vibrations by atomic oxygen.
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Atmospheric Physics
- Mechanics
- Thermodynamics