Abstract

We are entering a new era of FTS measurements of the earth’s thermal radiation with high spectral resolution. Aircraft Michelson interferometer systems are actively providing data to prepare scientists for global measurements of similar resolution from the U.S. EOS and European METOP satellites. The Japanese ADEOS interferometer (IMG) is already in orbit providing very high spectral resolution observations of the radiative emissions by the earth’s surface, radiatively active trace gases, and water vapor. Surface based fourier transform interferometer spectrometers are being used for local monitoring of the Planetary Boundary Layer thermodynamic structure, the surface temperature and emissivity, and the spectral distribution of the net radiative exchange between the atmosphere and the surface. Even after the planned implementation of high spectral resolution sounders on operational satellites, small airborne interferometer systems, mounted on commercial cargo aircraft, could play a crucial role in providing air truth radiometric and meteorological profile data over the conventional data sparse oceans of the globe.

© 1997 Optical Society of America