A Dual Etalon Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Observing Tropospheric Ozone : Airborne Instrument Design

摘要

Space-based observation of tropospheric trace species has been identified as a high-priority atmospheric science goal. In particular, global and regional measurements of lower atmosphere ozone concentrations are critical to both enhancing scientific understanding and to expanding capabilities for pollution monitoring. The interferometer addressed here will be a spatially imaging, spectrally tunable airborne sensor focused on making such important tropospheric ozone measurements, and is designed to be a risk-reduction and proof-of-concept test-bed for developing the corresponding orbiting instrument also based upon a dual etalon Fabry-Perot interferometer. We present herein details of the airborne instrument design and development process, including parameter specifications for the interferometer and other enabling subsystems, as well as plans for integration, test, and characterization in the laboratory.