Towards IASI-New Generation (IASI-NG): impact of improved spectral resolution and radiometric noise on the retrieval of thermodynamic, chemistry and climate variables

Besides their strong contribution to weather forecast improvement through data assimilation, thermal infrared sounders onboard polar-orbiting platforms are now playing a key role for monitoring atmospheric composition changes. The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) instrument developed by the French space agency (CNES) and launched by Eumetsat onboard the Metop satellite series is providing essential inputs for weather forecasting and pollution/climate monitoring owing to its smart combination of large horizontal swath, good spectral resolution and high radiometric performance. EUMETSAT is currently preparing the next polar-orbiting program (EPS-SG) with the Metop-SG satellite series that should be launched around 2020. In this framework, CNES is studying the concept of a new instrument, the IASI-New Generation (IASI-NG), characterized by an improvement of both spectral and radiometric characteristics as compared to IASI, with three objectives: (i) continuity of the IASI/Metop series; (ii) improvement of vertical resolution; (iii) improvement of the accuracy and detection threshold for atmospheric and surface components. In this paper, we show that an improvement of spectral resolution and radiometric noise fulfill these objectives by leading to (i) a better vertical coverage in the lower part of the troposphere, thanks to the increase in spectral resolution; (ii) an increase in the accuracy of the retrieval of several thermodynamic, climate and chemistry variables, thanks to the improved signal-to-noise ratio as well as less interferences between the signatures of the absorbing species in the measured radiances. The detection limit of several atmospheric species is also improved. We conclude that IASI-NG has the potential for strongly benefiting the numerical weather prediction, chemistry and climate communities now connected through the European GMES/Copernicus initiative

The IASI-NG mission onboard METOP-SG: Scientific objectives and expected results

Thermal infrared sounders onboard polar-orbiting platforms are now playing a key role for monitoring the atmospheric composition change. Thanks to its smart combination of large horizontal swath, good spectral resolution and high radiometric performance, the IASI instrument developed by CNES and launched by Eumetsat onboard the MetOp satellite series is providing essential inputs for weather forecasting, for the monitoring of several essential climate variables, and for the study of atmospheric composition and pollution. IASI thus strongly benefits the NWP, chemistry and climate communities now connected through the GMES initiative (Sentinel 5, MACC project). In the framework of the EPS-SG program of EUMETSAT, CNES is currently preparing the IASI-NG (IASI-New Generation) mission that will fly on the ESA MetOp-SG satellite series. The mission is now moving to Phase-B and specifications have been narrowed to an improvement of the spectral resolution (factor of 2 as compared to IASI) and the radiometric noise (factor of 2 in the longwave, better in the shortwave and in some spectral regions particularly important for atmospheric composition). In this talk, we will discuss the science plan of IASI-NG that involves the NWP, climate and atmospheric composition communities and is structured around three main objectives: (i) continuity of the MetOp series; (ii) improvement of vertical coverage, especially in the lower troposphere; (iii) improvement of the precision and detection threshold of atmospheric and surface components

Hyperspectral Earth observation from IASI: Five years of accomplishments

The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) forms the main infrared sounding component of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites's (EUMETSAT's) Meteorological Operation (MetOp)-A satellite (Klaes et al. 2007), which was launched in October 2006. This article presents the results of the first 4 yr of the operational IASI mission. The performance of the instrument is shown to be exceptional in terms of calibration and stability. The quality of the data has allowed the rapid use of the observations in operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) and the development of new products for atmospheric chemistry and climate studies, some of which were unexpected before launch. The assimilation of IASI observations in NWP models provides a significant forecast impact; in most cases the impact has been shown to be at least as large as for any previous instrument. In atmospheric chemistry, global distributions of gases, such as ozone and carbon monoxide, can be produced in near–real time, and short-lived species, such as ammonia or methanol, can be mapped, allowing the identification of new sources. The data have also shown the ability to track the location and chemistry of gaseous plumes and particles associated with volcanic eruptions and fires, providing valuable data for air quality monitoring and aircraft safety. IASI also contributes to the establishment of robust long-term data records of several essential climate variables. The suite of products being developed from IASI continues to expand as the data are investigated, and further impacts are expected from increased use of the data in NWP and climate studies in the coming years. The instrument has set a high standard for future operational hyperspectral infrared sounders and has demonstrated that such instruments have a vital role in the global observing system

The 2003 edition of the GEISA/IASI spectroscopic database

The content of the current (2003) version, GEISA/IASI-03, of the computer-accessible spectroscopic database, GEISA/IASI, is described. This "system" or database is comprised of three independent spectroscopic archives, which are (a) a database of individual spectral line parameters on 14 molecules, H2O, CO2, O3, N2O, CO, CH4, O2, NO, SO2, NO2, HNO3, OCS, C2H2, N2, and the related 51 isotopomers and isotopologues, representing 702,550 entries, in the spectral range 599-3001 cm-1, (b) a database of spectral absorption cross-sections (6,572,329 entries related to six molecules, CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-14, HCFC-22, N2O5, CCl4), and a catalogue of microphysical and optical properties (mainly, the refractive indices) of atmospheric aerosols. The modifications and improvements, which have been implemented since the earlier editions of this database, in terms of content and management, have been explained in detail. GEISA/IASI has been created with the specific purpose of assessing the capability of measurement by the IASI instrument within the designated goals of ISSWG in the frame of the CNES/EUMETSAT European Polar System preparation. All the archived data can be handled through a user-friendly associated management software, which is posted on the ARA/LMD group web site at http://ara.lmd.polyechnique.fr. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The 2003 edition of GEISA

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The 2015 edition of the GEISA spectroscopic database

The GEISA database (Gestion et Etude des Informations Spectroscopiques Atmosphériques: Management and Study of Atmospheric Spectroscopic Information) has been developed and maintained by the ARA/ABC(t) group at LMD since 1974. GEISA is constantly evolving, taking into account the best available spectroscopic data. This paper presents the 2015 release of GEISA (GEISA-2015), which updates the last edition of 2011 and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the database. Significant updates and additions have been implemented in the three following independent databases of GEISA. The “line parameters database” contains 52 molecular species (118 isotopologues) and transitions in the spectral range from 10−6 to 35,877.031 cm−1, representing 5,067,351 entries, against 3,794,297 in GEISA-2011. Among the previously existing molecules, 20 molecular species have been updated. A new molecule (SO3) has been added. HDO, isotopologue of H2O, is now identified as an independent molecular species. Seven new isotopologues have been added to the GEISA-2015 database. The “cross section sub-database” has been enriched by the addition of 43 new molecular species in its infrared part, 4 molecules (ethane, propane, acetone, acetonitrile) are also updated; they represent 3% of the update. A new section is added, in the near-infrared spectral region, involving 7 molecular species: CH3CN, CH3I, CH3O2, H2CO, HO2, HONO, NH3. The “microphysical and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols sub-database” has been updated for the first time since 2003. It contains more than 40 species originating from NCAR and 20 from the ARIA archive of Oxford University. As for the previous versions, this new release of GEISA and associated management software facilities are implemented and freely accessible on the AERIS/ESPRI atmospheric chemistry data center website.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe