Abstract
High resolution Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR) absorption spectroscopic measurements are used to retrieve trace gas abundances in the atmosphere at a number of sites throughout the world. Typically, the sun is used as an infrared light source above the atmosphere of the Earth, however, at polar sites, such as our measurement site at Spitsbergen, sunlight is not available during polar night (October–March). Instead, the moon can be used as a substitute infrared light source. In this article we present a proof of concept for the usage of a thermoelectrically cooled InGaAs (Indium-Gallium-Arsenide) near infrared detector to measure the column averaged trace gas abundances by lunar absorption spectroscopy based on trial measurements made in Bremen. These measurements demonstrate the potential of using lunar measurements for retrieval of atmospheric columns of CO2 and CH4. The resulting data can be used to fill a crucial gap in the seasonal cycle at polar sites.
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We thankfully acknowledge funding by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
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Buschmann, M., Deutscher, N.M., Palm, M., Warneke, T., Weinzierl, T., Notholt, J. (2015). Near-Infrared Lunar Absorption Spectroscopy for the Retrieval of Column Averaged CO2 and CH4 . In: Lohmann, G., Meggers, H., Unnithan, V., Wolf-Gladrow, D., Notholt, J., Bracher, A. (eds) Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach in Earth System Science. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13865-7_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13865-7_10
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