Abstract

Increasing concern is being expressed about the impact of anthropogenic emissions on the present and future state of the lower and middlr atmosphere: urban pollution; acid rain; stratospheric ozone depletion; climatological effects of the increase in "greenhouse" gases; etc. There is a clear need for instrumentation to study these questions on a global scale. Accordingly, we describe the concept of a cryogenic infrared (600 - 3450 cm⁻¹) imaging Fourier transform spectrometer for observations of the troposphere and lower stratosphere from near-Earth orbit using natural thermal emission and reflected sunlight (when appropriate). It has been demonstrated that such a system can function successfully despite the obvious interferences of clouds, aerosols and water vapor continuum.

© 1989 Optical Society of America