Abstract

A practical procedure for the retrieval of ozone vertical profiles from ground-based high resolution Fourier transform infrared solar spectra has been developed. The analysis is based on a multilayer line-by-line forward model and a semi-empirical version of the optimal estimation inversion method of Rodgers [1]. The 1002.6-1003.2 cm^-1 spectral interval has been selected for the analysis on the basis of synthetic spectrum calculations (see Fig. 1). This interval contains numerous ozone lines covering a range of intensities and providing retrieval sensitivity from ground level to about 35 km. Characterization of the method and an error analysis have been performed. For a spectral resolution of 0.05–0.01 cm^-1 and a signal-to-noise ratio ≥100 the retrieval is stable with a vertical resolution of ≈5 km attainable near the surface degrading to ≈10 km in the stratosphere. Synthetic spectra studies show that the a priori profile and weak constraints selected for the retrievals introduce no significant biases for a wide range of ozone profiles.

© 1995 Optical Society of America