First Results of the SCIAMACHY Mission: Stratosphere

Limb measurements in the stratosphere

The first ozone vertical profile retrieved from the SCIAMACHY limb observations, using algorithms developed at the IUP/IFE of the University of Bremen. Two different retrieval methods have been successfully applied (Dr. A. Rozanov, Dr. C. von Savigny). Both SCIAMACHY retrievals show a consistent profile shape. A nearby profile derived from POAM is also shown. We would like to thank the POAM team for providing their data. The origins of the differences in the lower stratosphere are being investigated.

A composite of the first pole-to-pole retrieval of ozone profiles from SCIAMACHY data (Dr. C. von Savigny, ife/UB) as compared with that from a climatological CTM assimilation (NCAR-ROSE) of ozone from GOME data (Dr. M. Bittner, DLR-DFD). The change of the ozone tropopause and of the ozone maximum height as a function of latitude can be clearly be seen.

The first retrieval of a nitrogen dioxide (NO2) vertical profile (Dr. A. Rozanov, ife/UB) from SCIAMACHY Limb data using algorithms, developed at the IUP/IFE University of Bremen is compared with a retrieval of NO2 from nearby POAM measurements. POAM makes measurements during solar occultation. We would like to thank the POAM team for providing their data. A stratospheric chemical model calculation (Dr. M. v. König, UB) has been used to investigate and potentially account for the differences between POAM and SCIAMACHY Limb retrievals, which result from the rapid photolysis of NO2 during twilight. Both model and measurement show reasonable agreement in the stratosphere. Deviations in the lower stratosphere have to be investigated in detail. SCIAMACHY is able to measure NO2 profiles globally.

Occultation measurements in the stratosphere

The comparison of the first occultation profile of ozone retrieved from SCIAMACHY (Dr. A. Schlesier, Dipl.Phys. J. Meyer, ife/UB) with a nearby POAM profile shows good agreement taking into account the difference in latitude of more than 5 deg and a corresponding gradient in ozone between both measurements.

The comparison of the first occultation profile of NO2 retrieved from SCIAMACHY (Dr. A. Schlesier, Dipl.Phys. J. Meyer, ife/UB) with a nearby POAM profile shows good agreement. NO2 profiles from SCIAMACHY occultations measurements will be derived in the 60 to 90 deg N range.

Nadir measurements in the stratosphere

Spectral fit of O3 and NO2 in SCIAMACHY Nadir measurements (Dr. A. Richter). The signature of NO2 and ozone both in the UV and in the visible spectral range is accurately retrived. Please note, that these fits were performed on uncalibrated data and the precision and accuracy are expected to improve when fully calibrated SCIAMACHY data are available.