Estimation of Vertical Distributions of Water Vapor and Aerosols from Spaceborne Observations of Scattered Sunlight
Abstract
The scientific aims of this project are to investigate, develop and apply methods based solidly on scattering physics and inverse theory to estimate vertical distributions of water vapor and aerosol properties from hyperspectral observations of scattered sunlight. We seek especially to advance methods for the lower troposphere, where water vapor and aerosols are concentrated and affect naval systems strongly. We are presently working on a method applicable over the sea surface. The current focus of the project is on physics and inverse theory for retrieval of water vapor profiles very near sea and littoral land surfaces (from roughly 0 - 500 mB) using high spectral resolution near- IR observations of scattered sunlight, such as are expected from the NEMO/COIS sensor. We are working to quantify the fidelity and altitude ranges of inversion based on clear-air aerosol scattering, and to test alternative methods for this inversion using existing (airborne) hyperspectral observations, to the degree possible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA610165
Entities
People
- Dale P. Winebrenner
- John Sylvester
Organizations
- University of Washington