Request for HIAPER support for:
HAFTSO
Submitted to NCAR OFAP 7 June 2004
Principal Investigator:
Michael T. Coffey
Atmospheric Chemistry Division
National Center for Atmospheric Research
P.O Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307
Tel: 303/497-1407
Fax: 303/497-1492
coffey@ncar.ucar.edu
Title: High Altitude Fourier Transform Spectrometer Observations (HAFTSO)
Co-Investigators:
James W. Hannigan
NCAR
Tel: 303/497-1853
jamesw@ncar.ucar.edu
Aaron Goldman
University of Denver
Tel: 303/871-2897
goldman@ncar.ucar.edu
Location: May be operated from NCAR facility at JEFFCO or any other convenient
facility
Dates: Any sunset or sunrise during the period of the NCAR Progressive Science
Mission
Abstract
We propose to deploy an NCAR Fourier transform spectrometer aboard the
NCAR G-V aircraft to record high-resolution solar infrared absorption spectra of the
atmosphere above the aircraft. From these absorption spectra we will derive column
abundances of a number of stratospheric gases important to middle atmosphere ozone
chemistry and long-term climate change. We also will attempt to make coincident
observations with infrared and microwave viewing instruments aboard the NASA EOS
Aura satellite to assist in the validation of those sensors.
Summary
High resolution infrared spectra have been recorded by the NCAR Fourier
transform spectrometer (FTS) during a number of missions aboard NCAR and NASA
high altitude aircraft deployments over a period of more than 20 years. Observations
have extended from pole to pole. Column amounts above the aircraft flight level are
retrieved by fitting the observed spectra with calculated spectra. Stratospheric gases that
have been retrieved during airborne field programs are listed in Table 1. The major
chlorine reservoirs (HCl and ClONO2), the important nitrogen-containing gases in the
stratosphere (N2O, NO, NO2, and HNO3), stratospheric and tropospheric tracers (HF,
CH4, C2H6, H2O, CO2), a major chlorine source CFC (CF2Cl2) and ozone may be
routinely retrieved. These observations have been used in studies of the processes
affecting polar ozone, to describe the effects of volcanic injections to the stratosphere and
to define the latitudinal, seasonal and long-term behavior of the concentrations of a
number of stratospheric gases (see publication list below).
Table 1. Molecules observed with the NCAR Fourier Transform Spectrometer
N2
H2O
CO2
CF2Cl2
HCN
N2O
HCl
O2
HDO
CO
CFCl3
OCS
NO
HF
O3
CH4
SO2
NO2
C2H6
HNO3
ClONO2
Objectives
There are three main objectives of our proposed HIAPER Progressive Mission
research.
1. To extend our existing long term data set of stratospheric column abundances of
important gases. The proposed experiment has a long record of observations
from aircraft producing a unique data set from the vantage point of the upper
troposphere to lower stratosphere (UT/LS). That data set has been used to
determine the latitudinal distribution of stratospheric gases such as NO, NO2,
HNO3, ClONO2, HCl, HF, OCS and H2O. Measurements by this experiment have
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allowed the discovery of HCN in the stratosphere and of HCl among the gases
emitted by volcanoes. Most recently the long record of aircraft observations has
been used also to describe the long-term trend in UT/LS water vapor and three of
its isotopes. These results should be very useful to help explain the transport of
water in the critical region of the UT/LS. Observations by the NCAR FTS from
HIAPER, without data from any other experiment, will allow a valuable extension
of the long-term trend results from the previous studies. The last opportunity to
deploy our spectrometer on a high altitude aircraft was in March of 2000. Figure
1 shows previous observation latitudes versus time.
2. To provide validation for the global satellite observations of EOS Aura. In June
2004 NASA will launch the third of the Earth Observing Satellite’s (EOS), Aura
will carry 4 instruments for viewing the atmosphere in the region from 8-100 km.
Because of the viewing geometry of these space borne instruments the column
measurements that can be made by our aircraft based spectrometer are particularly
appropriate for validation. Also, many of the gases to be measured by the Aura
instruments can be measured by the NCAR spectrometer, because of the
versatility of the FTS technique. Connections already have been made with the
Aura validation team (since this PI also is part of that team) that reveal the value
of aircraft column measurements to many of the measurement objectives of Aura.
Again, these HIAPER FTS observation would require no collaborative aircraft
observations, only coincident measurements with Aura.
3. To demonstrate the range of capabilities of the HIAPER. Our proposed research
will test the high altitude capabilities of the G-V aircraft as we wish to be above as
much lower atmospheric water vapor as possible. Our solar tracking requirement
will test the stability of the platform for straight and level flight, and the ability to
provide an infrared beam through a port on the plane. Our desire to acquire
observations at as wide a range of latitudes as possible could demonstrate the long
range capability of the G-V.
Finally, the installation and successful deployment of the NCAR FTS will demonstrate
this capability for a future rapid response to a stratospheric perturbation, such as a large
volcanic injection. Two such perturbations previously have been observed using the
NCAR FTS. The last of these eruptions was Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. The NCAR FTS was
mobilized on short notice soon after that eruption to measure the constituents of the
Pinatubo volcanic plume during its first transit of the globe. The HIAPER may be the
only platform available with rapid response and sufficient range capabilities to respond to
the next eruption.
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Figure 1
Latitude of observations versus time
Experiment Design/Operations
The flight profiles required of HIAPER, to meet the science objectives above,
are straight and level flight roughly perpendicular to the direction of the sun.
Observations only need to be made for approximately 90 minutes around the rising or
setting sun, assuming a side viewing geometry from HIAPER, leaving plenty of time
for custom flight plans for other experiments. For Aura validation, flights would be
made to coincide with satellite overpasses. In mid and low-latitudes such flight tracks
are essentially north and south which provides latitudinal variation in the
measurements. These FTS measurements, that require a latitudinal variation, are an
excellent way to highlight the extensive range capabilities of HIAPER. The ability to
track the sun from HIAPER will be an important capability to demonstrate during the
progressive mission.
Installation of the FTS in the cabin of the G-V should be straight forward as the
experiment has flown on numerous, extensive missions on the NSF Sabreliner, NASA
DC-8, NASA P3 and NASA Electra. Mechanical stress analyses of the spectrometer
package, as required before the NASA DC-8 deployments, are attached as Appendix A.
The contours of the package fit nicely into the space allocated for 19 inch racks in the GV and the mounting feet even line up with the G-V seat tracks. The FTS solar tracking
mirror is at just the right height to view through a side window. Some attention will be
required to design an infrared window mount specific to the G-V aircraft.
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Observations are made of the atmospheric transmission in the infrared, with
wavelengths from 2 to 14 m, using the sun as a source. Thus, we can only observe when
the radiation from the sun comes through the window into the instrument. A single
-1
spectrum, with an apodized resolution of 0.06 cm , is recorded in six seconds. We use a
8” diameter ZnSe window that gives us a range of observable azimuths ±15° about the
direction abeam of the aircraft, and a range of observable elevations from -2° to +15°.
Observations will be made in spectral bands defined by filters. The spectral coverage will
be almost continuous from 2-14 m, enabling us to produce columns of the gaseous
species in Table 1. Based on the experience from previous missions and some recent
instrument improvements, we anticipate that the precision of the retrieved columns will
be a few per cent. The absolute accuracy depends on a number of factors that vary from
compound to compound, but is expected to be in the range of 10-30%.
Interferograms are recorded by the onboard FTS computer for either real-time
Fourier transforming into absorption spectra or for later analysis on the ground. Analysis
of spectra for retrieving gas columns, is done using the SFIT non-linear least squares
fitting routine, which has become the de facto standard in the NDSC community and has
been extensively tested against other analysis codes. Retrievals of column amounts of
gaseous species will be made on the ground after flights.
Educational Activities
The anticipated aircraft integration period for the G-V Progressive Mission, JuneAugust 2005, will overlap with the time that we usually have a summer student. The
NCAR SOARS program brings to NCAR each year dozens of undergraduate students
who have historically been underrepresented in the atmospheric sciences to work with
NCAR scientists and engineers. We expect to include our summer student in the aircraft
integration activities. The large archive of airborne observations, to which the proposed
research would add, has provided a source for a number of SOARS summer studies.
Aircraft Operations
Preferred flight period
Anytime during the Progressive Science Mission
Will attempt coincident observations with
satellite sensors
Number of flights required
Any day will make a useful addition to database
Estimated duration of flts
90 minutes of observing, not including climb
Number of flights per day
One
Average flight radius
Maximum range of latitudes is desired for mission
Desired flight altitude
Any height above 40kft, higher is better
Particular parts of day
90 minutes before sunset, or after sunrise
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How many days expected
Only takeoff and landing weather is important
since solar viewing is above most weather
Number of observers
Minimum of one
Investigator Supplied Equipment
Spectrometer Base, carrying optics and electronics (see attached drawings)
Weight
340 lbs (155 kg)
Footprint
18 X 47.5 inches
Envelope
26 X 48 X 38 inches
Detached air pump (mounted on floor)
Weight
16 lbs (7.3 kg)
Envelope
9 X 16 X 9 inches
Power required
10A, 120VAC
Infrared window fixture
To be designed to fit GV passenger window space
(requirements have been discussed with ATD design and fabrication)
Previous Research Aircraft Experience
2000 Jan-Mar
212 hrs.
SOLVE-THESEO
SAGE III Validation
NASA Ames DC-8
1992 Jan-Mar
220 hrs.
Airborne Arctic Stratospheric
Expedition II (AASE II)
NASA Ames DC-8
1992 Apr
37 hrs
Stratospheric Latitudinal and
Temporal Trends (SLATT III)
NCAR/RAF Sabreliner
1991 Sept
17 hrs
Stratospheric Latitudinal and
Temporal Trends (SLATT II)
NCAR/RAF Sabreliner
1991 July
40 hrs
Pinatubo Volcanic Cloud
Study
NASA Wallops Electra
1991 June
10 hrs
Stratospheric Latitudinal and
Temporal Trends (SLATT I)
NCAR/RAF Sabreliner
1989 Jan-Feb
Airborne Arctic
NASA Ames DC-8
5
200 hrs.
Stratospheric Expedition (AASE)
1988 Oct-Nov
75 hrs.
Southern Hemisphere
Infrared Experiment (SHIRE)
NCAR/RAF Sabreliner
1988 Jan
30 hrs.
Chemistry of the Polar Stratosphere
(CHEOPS)
NASA Wallops Flight
Facility P-3
1987 Aug-Oct
200 hrs.
Airborne Antarctic Ozone
Experiment(AAOE)
NASA Ames DC-8
1985 Apr-May Stratospheric sampling and
40 hrs.
and spectroscopy
NCAR/RAF Sabreliner
1983 Apr-JuneStratospheric trace gas spectroscopy
27 hrs.
international comparison
“
1982 Dec
7 hrs.
Laser absorption spectroscopy
“
1982 Sept-Oct
24 hrs.
Stratospheric trace gas spectroscopy
international intercomparison
“
1982 July
33 hrs.
Stratospheric trace gas measurements
1981 Jan-Feb
Laser absorption spectroscopy
1980 Jan-Feb
20 hrs.
Stratospheric trace gas measurements
1979 Aug-Sept
40 hrs.
Fire emission measurements
1978 June-July
20 hrs.
Stratospheric trace gas measurements
“
1978 Jan-Feb
30 hrs.
Stratospheric trace gas measurements
“
1975 Oct-Nov
40 hrs.
Tropospheric IR absorption in
atmospheric window regions
Royal Air Force,
MRF Canberra
1974 Nov-Dec
30 hrs.
Tropospheric IR absorption in
atmospheric window regions
“
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“
“
“
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Publications Resulting from Past ATD Support
Spectroscopic Measurement of Carbonyl Sulfide in the Stratosphere, W. G. Mankin, M.
T. Coffey, D. W. T. Griffith, S. R. Drayson, Geophys. Res. Lett., 6, No. 11, 853-856,
1979.
Simultaneous Spectroscopic Determination of the Latitudinal, Seasonal and Diurnal
Variability of Stratospheric N2O, NO, NO2 and HNO3, M. T. Coffey, W. G. Mankin, A.
Goldman, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 7331-7341, 1981.
Observation of New Emission Lines in the Infrared Solar Spectrum Near 12.33, 12.22
and 7.38 m, F. J. Murcray, A. Goldman, F. H. Murcray, C. M. Bradford, D. G. Murcray,
M. T. Coffey, W. G. Mankin, Astrophys. J., 247, L97-99, 1981.
Spectroscopic Measurements of Stratospheric Hydrogen Cyanide, M. T. Coffey, W. G.
Mankin, R. J. Cicerone, Science, 214, 333-335, 1981.
Atmospheric Hydrogen Cyanide Absorption Near 14 m, M. T. Coffey, A. Goldman,
Appl. Opt., 20, 3480, 1981.
Latitudinal Distribution and Temporal Changes of Stratospheric HCl and HF, William G.
Mankin and M. T. Coffey, J. Geophys. Res., 88, 10,766-10,784, 1983.
Simultaneous Stratospheric Measurements of H2O, HDO, and CH4 from Balloon-borne
and Aircraft Infrared Solar Absorption Spectra and Tunable Diode Laser Laboratory
Spectra of HDO, C. P. Rinsland, A. Goldman, V. Malathy Devi, B. Fridovich, D. G. S.
Snyder, G. D. Jones, F. J. Murcray, D. G. Murcray, M. A. H. Smith, R. K. Seals, Jr., M.
T. Coffey and W. G. Mankin, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 7259-7266, 1984.
Increased Stratospheric Hydrogen Chloride in the El Chichón Cloud, William G. Mankin
and M. T. Coffey, Science, 226, 170-172, 1984.
Balloon-Borne and Aircraft Infrared Measurements of Ethane (C2H6) in the Upper
Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere, A. Goldman, C. P. Rinsland, F. J. Murcray, D. G.
Murcray, M. T. Coffey and W. G. Mankin. J. Atmos. Chem., 2, 211-221, 1984.
Observations of Air Composition in Brazil Between the Equator and 20°S During the Dry
Season, P. J. Crutzen, M. T. Coffey, A. C. Delany, J. Greenberg, P. Haagenson, L. Heidt,
R. Lueb, W. G. Mankin, W. Pollock, W. Seiler, A. Wartburg and P. Zimmerman, Acta
Amazonica, 15, 77-119, 1985.
Infrared Measurements of Atmospheric Ethane (C2H6) from Aircraft and Ground-Based
Solar Absorption Spectra in the 3000 cm-1 Region, M. T. Coffey, W. G. Mankin, A.
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Goldman, C. P. Rinsland, G. A. Harvey, V. Malathy Devi, and G. M. Stokes, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 12, 199-202, 1985.
Stratospheric NO2 Retrieval From Solar Absorption Spectra in the 3 and 1 + 3
Infrared Bands, M. T. Coffey, William G. Mankin, A. Goldman, Appl. Optics, 25, 24602462, 1986.
On the Temporal Change of Stratospheric NO2, M. T. Coffey, Geophys. Res. Lett., 15,
331-334,1988.
Intercomparison of measurements of stratospheric hydrogen fluoride, William G. Mankin,
M. T. Coffey, K. V. Chance, W. A. Traub, B. Carli, F. Mencaraglia, S. Piccioli, I. G.
Nolt, J. V. Radostitz, R. Zander, G. Roland, Douglas W. Johnson, Gerald M. Stokes, C.
B. Farmer, and R. K. Seals, J. Atmos. Chem., 10, 219-236, 1990.
Intercomparison of remote measurements of stratospheric NO and NO2, H. K. Roscoe, B.
J. Kerridge, S. Pollitt, N. Louisnard, J. M. Flaud, J-P. Pommereau, T. Ogawa, N.
Iwagami, M. T. Coffey, W. Mankin, W. F. J. Evans, C. T. McElroy, J. Kerr, J. Atmos.
Chem., 10, 111-144, 1990.
Balloon intercomparison campaigns: results of remote sensing measurements of HCl, C.
B. Farmer, B. Carli, A. Bonetti, M. Carlotti, B. M. Dinelli, H. Fast, N. Louisnard, C.
Alamichel, W. Mankin, M. Coffey, I. G. Nolt, D. G. Murcray, A. Goldman, G. Stokes, D.
Johnson, W. Traub, K. Chance, R. Zander, L. Delbouille, and G. Roland, J. Atmos.
Chem., 10, 237-272, 1990.
Airborne Observations of SO2, HCl, and O3 in the Stratospheric Plume of the Pinatubo
Volcano in July 1991, W. G. Mankin, M. T. Coffey, and A. Goldman, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 19, 179-182, 1992.
Observations of the loss stratospheric NO2 following volcanic eruptions. M. T. Coffey
and W. G. Mankin, Geophys. Res. Lett., 20, 2873, 1993.
Fourier transform spectroscopy for stratospheric research. M. T. Coffey and W. G.
Mankin, Spectroscopy, 8, 22, 1993.
Observations of the impact of volcanic activity on stratospheric chemistry, M. T. Coffey,
J. Geophys. Res., 101, 6767, 1996.
Isotopic OCS from high resolution balloon-borne and ground-based infrared solar
absorption spectra, A. Goldman, M. T. Coffey, T.M. Stephen, C. P. Rinsland, W. G.
Mankin and J. W. Hannigan, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 67, 447, 2000.
Weak ozone isotopic absorption in the 5m region from high resolution FTIR solar
spectra, A. Goldman, C. P. Rinsland, A. Perrin, J.-M. Flaud, A. Barbe, C. Camy-Peyret,
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M. T. Coffey, W. G. Mankin, J. W. Hannigan, T. M. Stephen, V. Malathy Devi, M. A. H.
Smith, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 74, 133, 2002.
Springtime photochemistry at northern mid and high latitudes, Yuhang Wang, Brian
Ridley, Alan Fried, Christopher Cantrell, Douglas Davis, Gao Chen, Julie Snow, Brian
Heikes, Robert Talbot, Jack Dibb, Frank Flocke, Andrew Weinheimer, Nichola Blake,
Donald Blake, Richard Shetter, Barry Lefer, Elliot Atlas, Michael Coffey, Jim Walega,
and Brian Wert, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 8358, 2003.
Tunable diode laser measurements of formaldehyde during the TOPSE 2000 study:
Distributions, trends, and model comparisons, Alan Fried, Yuhang Wang, Chris Cantrell,
Bryan Wert1, James Walega, Brian Ridley, Elliot Atlas, Rick Shetter, Barry Lefer1, M.T.
Coffey, Jim Hannigan, Donald Blake, Nicola Blake, Simone Meinardi, Bob Talbot, Jack
Dibb, Eric Scheuer, Oliver Wingenter, Julie Snow, Brian Heikes, and Dieter Ehhalt, J.
Geophys. Res., 108, 8365, 2003.
Steady state free radical budgets and ozone photochemistry during TOPSE, Christopher
A. Cantrell, L. Mauldin, M. Zondlo, F. Eisele, E. Kosciuch, R. Shetter, B. Lefer, S. Hall,
T. Campos, B. Ridley, J. Walega, A. Fried, B. Wert, F. Flocke, A. Weinheimer, J.
Hannigan, M. Coffey, E. Atlas, S. Stephens, B. Heikes, J. Snow, D. Blake, N. Blake, A.
Katzenstein, J. Jimenez, E. V. Browell, R. Cohen, J. Thornton, R. Rosen, P. Wooldridge,
D. Day, J. Dibb, E. Scheuer, G. Seid, R. Talbot, J. Geophys. Res. , 108, 8361, 2003.
Ozone, aerosol, potential vorticity, and trace gas trends observed at high latitudes from
February to May 2000, Edward V. Browell, Johnathan W. Hair, Carolyn F. Butler,
William B. Grant, Russell J. DeYoung, Marta A. Fenn, Vince G. Brackett, Marian B.
Clayton, Lorraine A. Brasseur, David B. Harper, Brian A. Ridley, Andrzej A. Klonecki,
Peter G. Hess, Louisa K. Emmons, Xuexi Tie, Elliot L. Atlas, Christopher A. Cantrell,
Anthony J. Wimmers, Donald R. Blake, Michael T. Coffey, James W. Hannigan, Jack E.
Dibb, Robert W. Talbot, Fred L. Eisele, Frank Flocke, Andrew J. Weinheimer, Alan
Fried, Bryan Wert, Julie A. Snow, and Barry Lefer, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 8369, 2003.
Ozone depletion events observed in the high latitude surface layer during the TOPSE
aircraft program, B. Ridley, E. Atlas, D. Montzka, E. Browell, C. Cantrell, D. Blake, N.
Blake, M. Coffey, R. Cohen, R. DeYoung, J. Dibb, F. Eisele, F. Floke, A. Fried, F.
Grahek, W. Grant, J. Hair, J. Hannigan, B. Heikes, B. Lefer, L. Mauldin, R. Shetter, J.
Snow, R. Talbot, J. Thornton, J. Walega, A. Weinheimer, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 8356,
2003.
Photochemistry in the Arctic free troposphere: Ozone budget and its dependence on
nitrogen oxides and the production rate of free radicals, C. Stroud, S. Madronich, E.
Atlas, C. Cantrell, A. Fried, B. Wert, B. Ridley, F. Eisele, L. Mauldin, R. Shetter, B.
Lefer, F. Flocke, A. Weinheimer, M. Coffey, B. Heikes, R. Talbot, D. Blake, J. Atmos.
Chem., xxx, xxx, 2003 (accepted).
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On the trend in upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric water vapor and its isotopes, M. T.
Coffey, J. W. Hannigan, A. Goldman and W. G. Mankin, J. Geophys. Res., 2003.
(submitted).
10
17”
IR ACD
windowFourier
NCAR
Transform Spectrometer
7”
12”
26”
34.5”
16”
18”
47.5”
18”
11
7
12
13
NCAR ACD Fourier Transform Spectrometer
14
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