Juan R. Pardo-Carrion
Abstract N. 6

J.R. Pardo, M. Gerin, C. Prigent, J. Cernicharo, G. Rochard and P. Brunel; 1998.

"Remote sensing of the mesospheric temperature profile from close-to-nadir observations: discussion about the capabilities of the 57.5-62.5 GHz frequency band and the 118.75 GHz single O2 line"

J. Quant. Spectr. and Radiat. Transfer, 60, N4, 559-571.


The new generation of atmospheric temperature sounders at frequencies around 60 GHz plan to include channels for scanning at altitudes above ~ 45 km (AMSU-C of NOAA and SSM/IS of DMSP). The thermal emission of O2 at such altitudes is affected by the interaction of the permanent magnetic moment of O2 in its ground electronic state 3Sigma with the Earth's magnetic field resulting in a Zeeman splitting of the rotational lines. This physical phenomenon is polarization dependent. Thus, the magnetic field makes the analysis of data coming from channels sensitive to it much more complicated than in the case of low atmospheric channels (temperature weighting functions peaking below ~ 45 km) around 60 GHz. This paper discusses the choice of frequencies and polarizations in the spin-rotation oxygen lines around 60 and 119 GHz to cover the goals of the future temperature sounders above ~ 45 km.