Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data

Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data

<p>Multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) is a widely used measurement technique for the detection of a variety of atmospheric trace gases. Using inverse modelling, the observation of trace gas column densities along different lines of sight enables the retrieval of...

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Main Authors: U. Frieß, S. Beirle, L. Alvarado Bonilla, T. Bösch, M. M. Friedrich, F. Hendrick, A. Piters, A. Richter, M. van Roozendael, V. V. Rozanov, E. Spinei, J.-L. Tirpitz, T. Vlemmix, T. Wagner, Y. Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2019-04-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/2155/2019/amt-12-2155-2019.pdf
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spelling doaj-c176db993fd04ef693d62fe126b5892a2020-11-24T20:57:14ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482019-04-01122155218110.5194/amt-12-2155-2019Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic dataU. Frieß0S. Beirle1L. Alvarado Bonilla2T. Bösch3M. M. Friedrich4F. Hendrick5A. Piters6A. Richter7M. van Roozendael8V. V. Rozanov9E. Spinei10E. Spinei11J.-L. Tirpitz12T. Vlemmix13T. Wagner14Y. Wang15Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Brussels, BelgiumRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Brussels, BelgiumRoyal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, the NetherlandsInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Brussels, BelgiumInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyNASA-Goddard, Greenbelt, Maryland, USAnow at: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USAInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyRoyal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, the NetherlandsMax Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany<p>Multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) is a widely used measurement technique for the detection of a variety of atmospheric trace gases. Using inverse modelling, the observation of trace gas column densities along different lines of sight enables the retrieval of aerosol and trace gas vertical profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer using appropriate retrieval algorithms. In this study, the ability of eight profile retrieval algorithms to reconstruct vertical profiles is assessed on the basis of synthetic measurements. Five of the algorithms are based on the optimal estimation method, two on parametrised approaches, and one using an analytical approach without involving any radiative transfer modelling. The synthetic measurements consist of the median of simulated slant column densities of <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> at 360 and 477&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">nm</span>, as well as of HCHO at 343&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">nm</span> and <span class="inline-formula">NO<sub>2</sub></span> at 477&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">nm</span>, from seven datasets simulated by five different radiative transfer models. Simulations are performed for a combination of 10 trace gas and 11 aerosol profiles, as well as 11 elevation angles, three solar zenith, and three relative azimuth angles. Overall, the results from the different algorithms show moderate to good performance for the retrieval of vertical profiles, surface concentrations, and total columns. Except for some outliers, the root-mean-square difference between the true and retrieved state ranges between (0.05–0.1)&thinsp;km<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for aerosol extinction and (2.5–5.0)&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">×10<sup>10</sup></span>&thinsp;molec&thinsp;cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> for HCHO and <span class="inline-formula">NO<sub>2</sub></span> concentrations.</p>https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/2155/2019/amt-12-2155-2019.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author U. Frieß
S. Beirle
L. Alvarado Bonilla
T. Bösch
M. M. Friedrich
F. Hendrick
A. Piters
A. Richter
M. van Roozendael
V. V. Rozanov
E. Spinei
E. Spinei
J.-L. Tirpitz
T. Vlemmix
T. Wagner
Y. Wang
spellingShingle U. Frieß
S. Beirle
L. Alvarado Bonilla
T. Bösch
M. M. Friedrich
F. Hendrick
A. Piters
A. Richter
M. van Roozendael
V. V. Rozanov
E. Spinei
E. Spinei
J.-L. Tirpitz
T. Vlemmix
T. Wagner
Y. Wang
Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
author_facet U. Frieß
S. Beirle
L. Alvarado Bonilla
T. Bösch
M. M. Friedrich
F. Hendrick
A. Piters
A. Richter
M. van Roozendael
V. V. Rozanov
E. Spinei
E. Spinei
J.-L. Tirpitz
T. Vlemmix
T. Wagner
Y. Wang
author_sort U. Frieß
title Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data
title_short Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data
title_full Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data
title_fullStr Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data
title_full_unstemmed Intercomparison of MAX-DOAS vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data
title_sort intercomparison of max-doas vertical profile retrieval algorithms: studies using synthetic data
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
issn 1867-1381
1867-8548
publishDate 2019-04-01
description <p>Multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) is a widely used measurement technique for the detection of a variety of atmospheric trace gases. Using inverse modelling, the observation of trace gas column densities along different lines of sight enables the retrieval of aerosol and trace gas vertical profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer using appropriate retrieval algorithms. In this study, the ability of eight profile retrieval algorithms to reconstruct vertical profiles is assessed on the basis of synthetic measurements. Five of the algorithms are based on the optimal estimation method, two on parametrised approaches, and one using an analytical approach without involving any radiative transfer modelling. The synthetic measurements consist of the median of simulated slant column densities of <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> at 360 and 477&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">nm</span>, as well as of HCHO at 343&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">nm</span> and <span class="inline-formula">NO<sub>2</sub></span> at 477&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">nm</span>, from seven datasets simulated by five different radiative transfer models. Simulations are performed for a combination of 10 trace gas and 11 aerosol profiles, as well as 11 elevation angles, three solar zenith, and three relative azimuth angles. Overall, the results from the different algorithms show moderate to good performance for the retrieval of vertical profiles, surface concentrations, and total columns. Except for some outliers, the root-mean-square difference between the true and retrieved state ranges between (0.05–0.1)&thinsp;km<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for aerosol extinction and (2.5–5.0)&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">×10<sup>10</sup></span>&thinsp;molec&thinsp;cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> for HCHO and <span class="inline-formula">NO<sub>2</sub></span> concentrations.</p>
url https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/2155/2019/amt-12-2155-2019.pdf
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