Airborne interferometer for atmospheric emission and solar absorption.

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Science
• Spectroscopy
• Radiative Transfer

Background:

• Understanding atmospheric composition and processes is crucial for climate modeling.
• Remote sensing instruments are vital for gathering atmospheric data from various platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Interferometer for Emission and Solar Absorption (INTESA) instrument.
• To detail INTESA's capabilities for studying radiative transfer in the troposphere and lower stratosphere.
• To report on the instrument's in-flight performance and accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) operating in the infrared spectrum (0.7-50 µm).
• Observing atmospheric thermal emission from multiple angles (above and below the aircraft).
• Employing a heliostat for solar absorption spectra measurements and a calibration system with blackbodies for radiometric error assessment.

Main Results:

• The Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) provides high-resolution data (0.7 cm⁻¹).
• The instrument successfully measures atmospheric thermal emission and solar absorption.
• In-flight radiometric accuracy was determined to be approximately 0.5 K in the mid-infrared spectrum.

Conclusions:

• INTESA is a capable infrared spectrometer for airborne atmospheric research.
• The instrument demonstrates high radiometric accuracy, crucial for reliable atmospheric measurements.
• INTESA contributes valuable data for studying radiative transfer processes in the Earth's atmosphere.