Abstract

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), to be launched in late 1991, will provide a detailed look at the physical and chemical processes controlling ozone in the Earth's upper atmosphere. It will produce comprehensive state-of-the-art measurements of ozone and key members of the nitrogen, hydrogen, and chlorine chemical families, as well as energy inputs, temperature, and wind fields in the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere. The scientific payload includes one microwave and two infrared emission limb sounders for determing vertical profiles of trace species and temperature, an infrared solar occultation sensor for minor species, two high resolution interferometers for doppler wind measurements, two full-disk solar spectrometers, and a high energy particle monitor. The UARS Science Team is composed of the nine investigator groups responsible for instruments, plus ten investigator groups providing additional capability in the areas of data analysis and interpretation. A dedicated distributed data system provides a powerful capability for data processing, storage, scientific analysis, and communications. An extensive effort to utilize correlative measurements, both for instrument data validation and for complementary scientific studies, is expected to foster wide-spread cooperative efforts in the use and analysis of UARS data.

© 1990 Optical Society of America