Juan R. Pardo-Carrion
Abstract N. 28

J. R. Pardo, M. Ridal, D. P. Murtagh and J. Cernicharo.

"Microwave temperature and pressure measurements with the Odin satellite:
I . Observational method"

Canadian Journal of Physics, Accepted for publication in the Special Odin Issue (2000).


The upcoming Swedish satellite Odin, will be equipped with millimeter and submillimeter receivers for observations of several molecular lines in the middle and upper atmosphere of our planet (~25-100 km, the particular altitude range depending on the species) for studies on the dynamics, chemistry and energy transfer in these regions. The same receivers will also be used to observe the interstellar medium (ISM) as the main astrophysical goal. Among the atmospheric lines to be observed there are two due to molecular oxygen (118.75 GHz and 487.25 GHz) that can be used for retrievals of the temperature vertical profile. We describe in this paper the radiative transfer modeling for O2 in the middle and upper atmosphere that we will use as basis for the retrieval algorithms. Two different observation modes are planned for Odin, the 3 channel operational mode and a high resolution mode. The first will determine the temperature and pressure on an operational basis using the oxygen line at 118.75 GHz, while the latter mode can be used for measurements of both O2 lines during a small fraction of the total available time for aeronomy in order to check particular details of the radiative transfer near O2 lines at very high altitudes (>70 km). The Odin temperature measurements are expected to cover the altitude range ~30-90 km.