Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Brown, L. R..
The Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment uses a Fourier transform spectrometer on board the space shuttle to record infrared solar occultation spectra of the atmosphere. Described are the current version of the molecular spectroscopic database used for the analysis of the data obtained during three Space Shuttle missions between 1992 and 1994.
The calibration of high resolution infrared spectra is generally more precise than accurate. This is the case even when they are recorded with Fourier transform interferometers. This presentation aims at improving the accuracy of wavenumber measurements in the infrared by recommending a selection of spectral lines as wavenumber standards for absolute calibration.
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To support the remote sensing of the outer planets, absorption spectra of H2O.
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The absorption spectra of H2S from 2000 to 11,147/cm have been obtained with spectral resolutions of 0.006, 0.012 and 0.021/cm using the Fourier transform spectrometer at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
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Numerous changes made for the 1991 and 1992 versions of the HITRAN database in the 0-6185/cm region for molecular line parameters of methane are described. An assessment of deficiencies in the parameters is presented.
This paper reports the detection and identification of the unresolved SF6 nu-3 band Q branch at 947.9/cm in high-resolution solar occultation spectra of the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere, which was made from the analysis of data recorded on April 30 to May 1, 1985 by the spaceborne Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy Fourier transform spectrometer as part of the Spacelab 3 mission. On the basis of SF6 line-by-line parameters obtained from the laboratory studies of Bobin et al. (1987) and Schatz and Hornig (1953), the measured absorption was analyzed to deduce SF6 volume mixing ratios in the altitude range 12-22 km. It was found that, in this altitude range, the SF6 volume mixing ratio is independent of altitude, with an average measured value of 1.42 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) at 31 deg N latitude.
This research task consists of operating a facility for making spectroscopic observations in support of upper atmospheric research. The facility responds to the needs and interests of the visiting investigators. Therefore, the research objectives are not predetermined except in broad outline. The emphasis is on studies that take advantage of the particular strengths of the Fourier Transform Spectrometer on Kitt Peak: high spectral resolution combined with wide spectral range and low noise.
Absorption spectra recorded on the high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer at Kitt Peak National Observatory/National Solar Observatory were used to measure individual line strengths of the nu(2) and nu(4) bands of (C-12)H4 and (C-13)H4. The measurements were used to obtain expressions that could be used to correctly predict individual line strengths through five orders of magnitude of absorption strength and high values of J-prime. Transition strengths were modeled using the dyad formalism of two interacting bands and a seven-term second-order dipole-moment expansion. The successful fitting of these data indicates that the method can be used to model measurements of 2- to 5-percent precision even at high values of J. For remote sensing applications, the present prediction of the dyad spectrum represents a substantial improvement.
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The objective of the ATMOS experiment is to measure the concentrations and distributions of gases in the middle and upper atmosphere (10 to 120 km) by IR absorption spectroscopy. In 1985 high resolution (0.01/cm) IR occultation spectra of the atmosphere were recorded using a modified Michelson interferometer orbiting onboard the Space Shuttle. With the sun as the radiation source, a single spectrum was obtained every 2.2 seconds with S/N ratios of 100:1 or better. An overview of the data analysis techniques, implications for malecular spectroscopy, and results obtained from the mission is presented.
During its first mission in 1985 onboard Spacelab 3, the ATMOS (atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy) instrument, a high speed Fourier transform spectrometer, produced a large number of high resolution infrared solar absorption spectra recorded in the occultation mode. The analysis and interpretation of these data in terms of composition, chemistry, and dynamics of the earth's upper atmosphere required good knowledge of the molecular line parameters for those species giving rise to the absorptions in the atmospheric spectra. This paper describes the spectroscopic line parameter database compiled for the ATMOS experiment and referenced in other papers describing ATMOS results. With over 400,000 entries, the linelist catalogs parameters of 46 minor and trace species in the 1-10,000/cm region.
A description and summary of the latest edition of the AFGL high-resolution transmission molecular absorption database (HITRAN) parameters are presented. This new database combines the information for the seven principal atmospheric absorbers and twenty-one additional molecular species previously contained on the AFGL atmospheric absorption line parameter compilation and on the trace gas compilation. In addition to updating the parameters on earlier editions of the compilation, new parameters have been added to this edition such as the self-broadened half-width, the temperature dependence of the air-broadened half-width, and the transition probability. The database contains 348,043 entries between 0 and 17,900/cm. A FORTRAN program is now furnished to allow rapid access to the molecular transitions and for the creation of customized output. A separate file of molecular cross sections of 11 heavy molecular species, applicable for qualitative simulation of transmission and emission in the atmosphere, has also been provided.
Four of the most prominent and sharpest infrared absorption features of chlorine nitrate at 780.2, 807.7, 809.4, and 1292.6/cm have been observed in a series of infrared solar spectra obtained at an unapodized spectral resolution of 0.01/cm, using the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy instrument from on-board Sapcelab 3. A quantitative analysis of the nu4 Q branch at 780.2/cm has provided insight into the concentration of ClONO2 between 19 and 40 km altitude. While the mean profile deduced from three sunset occultations near 30 deg N latitude exhibits a shape close to that predicted by model calculations, its concentrations in the 20 to 32 km altitude range are, however, about 30 percent larger, reaching a peak concentration of 9 x 10 to the 8th molecules/cu cm at 25 km. The concentrations above 32 km, deduced from one sunrise occultation at 47 deg JS, are even larger than the corresponding sunset values at 30 deg N latitude. Some of these discrepancies may be caused by the rather large uncertainty in the assumed Q branch strength.