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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, D13301, doi:10.1029/2005JD006270, 2006

Forward modeling and radiative transfer for the NASA EOS-Aura High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) instrument

G. L. Francis

Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


D. P. Edwards

Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


A. Lambert

Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


C. M. Halvorson

Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


J. M. Lee-Taylor

Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


J. C. Gille

Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


Abstract

We describe the radiative transfer modeling developed for the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) instrument on board the NASA EOS-Aura satellite. HIRDLS is a 21-channel broadband radiometer operating in the spectral region between 6 and 18 microns. It is designed to rapidly measure limb emission at tangent heights from the upper troposphere into the mesosphere on a global basis. Science products will include profiles of temperature and chemical constituents, aerosol estimates, the location of polar stratospheric clouds, and geopotential height gradients. We present the HIRDLS fast forward model, which must accurately and quickly estimate transmittances and channel radiances for use in the operational retrievals. The forward model uses a physically based approach that combines transmittance estimates from Curtis-Godson and Emissivity-Growth approximations with a statistical regression. Channel-dependent radiance accuracies for an eleven-member test ensemble are 0.5–1.0% or better, compared to a line-by-line reference, and satisfy the forward model design requirements. We also discuss the forward model hierarchy developed for HIRDLS which underlies the fast model and provides benchmark calculations, detailed spectroscopy, and access to the physics of the radiative transfer process for development work. Collectively, this framework provides an effective solution to the requirement for fast and accurate radiative transfer modeling for operational use.

Received 25 May 2005; accepted 13 February 2006; published 1 July 2006.

Keywords: Aura; forward model; HIRDLS.

Index Terms: 3360 Atmospheric Processes: Remote sensing; 3394 Atmospheric Processes: Instruments and techniques; 3334 Atmospheric Processes: Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342); 3362 Atmospheric Processes: Stratosphere/troposphere interactions; 3339 Atmospheric Processes: Ocean/atmosphere interactions (0312, 4504).

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Citation: Francis, G. L., D. P. Edwards, A. Lambert, C. M. Halvorson, J. M. Lee-Taylor, and J. C. Gille (2006), Forward modeling and radiative transfer for the NASA EOS-Aura High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) instrument, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D13301, doi:10.1029/2005JD006270.