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Remote sensing of surface and cloud temperatures using the 899-cm interval.
1University of Maryland, College Park,Maryland, USA.
Applied Optics
|January 9, 2010
Summary
This study measures surface and cloud-top temperatures using a balloon spectrometer at 30 km altitude. Results from tropical and arctic air masses were compared to ground-level temperature readings.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Remote Sensing
- Radiative Transfer
Background:
- Accurate measurement of surface and cloud-top temperatures is crucial for climate modeling and weather forecasting.
- Understanding atmospheric absorption and emission characteristics is essential for interpreting remote sensing data.
- Balloon-borne platforms offer a stable, high-altitude vantage point for atmospheric measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure surface and cloud-top temperatures from a 30 km altitude using a specific spectral interval.
- To analyze the contributions of continuum and selective absorption to temperature measurements.
- To compare remote sensing data with in-situ ground measurements.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a balloon flight spectrometer to obtain spectral measurements at 899 cm(-1) with an 8.75 cm(-1) bandpass.
- Conducted observations in diverse air masses: tropical humid (Palestine, Texas) and cold arctic (Sioux Falls, South Dakota).
- Compared spectrometer-derived temperatures with simultaneous ground-level screen temperatures and thermistor/radiometer surface measurements.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of measuring surface and cloud-top temperatures from high altitudes.
- Quantified the influence of atmospheric absorption on the accuracy of temperature retrievals.
- Showcased variations in temperature measurements between different air mass types and locations.
Conclusions:
- Balloon-borne spectroscopy provides valuable data for surface and cloud-top temperature determination.
- Atmospheric absorption significantly impacts remote temperature sensing accuracy.
- Comparative analysis validates the remote sensing approach against ground-truth measurements.
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