Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission

Limb scattering retrievals of atmospheric minor constituent profiles require highly accurate knowledge of the tangent heights during the measurements. The limb scattering measurements of the Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CartograpHY (SCIAMACHY) on Envisat are affected by t...

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Main Authors: C. von Savigny, J. W. Kaiser, H. Bovensmann, J. P. Burrows, I. S. McDermid, T. Leblanc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2005-01-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/5/2593/2005/acp-5-2593-2005.pdf
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author C. von Savigny
J. W. Kaiser
H. Bovensmann
J. P. Burrows
I. S. McDermid
T. Leblanc
author_facet C. von Savigny
J. W. Kaiser
H. Bovensmann
J. P. Burrows
I. S. McDermid
T. Leblanc
author_sort C. von Savigny
collection DOAJ
description Limb scattering retrievals of atmospheric minor constituent profiles require highly accurate knowledge of the tangent heights during the measurements. The limb scattering measurements of the Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CartograpHY (SCIAMACHY) on Envisat are affected by tangent height errors of up to 2 km. This contribution provides a summary of the temporal and spatial variation of the SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the SCIAMACHY mission. The tangent height errors are retrieved from the limb measurements in the UV-B spectral range. A seasonal modulation of the monthly mean tangent height offsets is identified with amplitudes of 800m (220m) before (after) the improvement of the Envisat orbit propagator model in December 2003. Even after the December 2003 orbit model improvement a constant offset component of about 1km is present. Furthermore, pointing discontinuities are identified that coincide with the daily updates of the on-board orbit propagator model. In order to reduce the errors in ozone profile retrievals caused by pointing errors to less than 5%, the tangent heights have to be known to within 250m.
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spelling doaj.art-2227f356a81844039d76e41b01faff1b2022-12-21T19:42:31ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242005-01-0151025932602Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the missionC. von SavignyJ. W. KaiserH. BovensmannJ. P. BurrowsI. S. McDermidT. LeblancLimb scattering retrievals of atmospheric minor constituent profiles require highly accurate knowledge of the tangent heights during the measurements. The limb scattering measurements of the Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CartograpHY (SCIAMACHY) on Envisat are affected by tangent height errors of up to 2 km. This contribution provides a summary of the temporal and spatial variation of the SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the SCIAMACHY mission. The tangent height errors are retrieved from the limb measurements in the UV-B spectral range. A seasonal modulation of the monthly mean tangent height offsets is identified with amplitudes of 800m (220m) before (after) the improvement of the Envisat orbit propagator model in December 2003. Even after the December 2003 orbit model improvement a constant offset component of about 1km is present. Furthermore, pointing discontinuities are identified that coincide with the daily updates of the on-board orbit propagator model. In order to reduce the errors in ozone profile retrievals caused by pointing errors to less than 5%, the tangent heights have to be known to within 250m.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/5/2593/2005/acp-5-2593-2005.pdf
spellingShingle C. von Savigny
J. W. Kaiser
H. Bovensmann
J. P. Burrows
I. S. McDermid
T. Leblanc
Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission
title_full Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission
title_fullStr Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission
title_full_unstemmed Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission
title_short Spatial and temporal characterization of SCIAMACHY limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission
title_sort spatial and temporal characterization of sciamachy limb pointing errors during the first three years of the mission
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/5/2593/2005/acp-5-2593-2005.pdf
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