Far infrared spectroscopy of the troposphere (FIRST): flight performance and data processing

Abstract

The radiative balance of the troposphere, and hence global climate, is dominated by the infrared absorption and emission of water vapor, particularly at far-infrared (far-IR) wavelengths from 15-50 µm. Current and planned satellites observe the infrared region to about 15.4 µm, ignoring spectral measurement of the far-IR region from 15 to 100µm. The far-infrared spectroscopy of the troposphere (FIRST) project, flown in June 2005, provided a balloon-based demonstration of the two key technologies required for a space-based far-IR spectral sensor. We discuss the FIRST Fourier transform spectrometer system (0.6 cm -1 unapodized resolution), its radiometric calibration in the spectral range from 10 to 100 µm, and its performance and science data from the flight. Two primary and two secondary goals are given and data presented to show the goals were achieved by the FIRST flight.

Interferometry to Detect Planets Outside Our Solar System

“…Due to the side opening for the telescope viewing, the radiation passes horizontally through several equivalent air masses to contribute an approximately equivalent amount of atmospheric scattering and absorption as the nadir-viewing telescope at 4,600 m (Wellard et al, 2006).…”

Recent Interferometry Applications in Topography and Astronomy

“…In the airplane, the IR radiation passes through the thinned atmosphere at 14,000 m with sufficient density to allow the plane to remain in the air. Due to the side opening for the telescope viewing, the radiation passes horizontally through several equivalent air masses to contribute an approximately equivalent amount of atmospheric scattering and absorption as the nadir-viewing telescope at 4,600 m (Wellard et al, 2006).…”