Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics www.atmos-chem-phys.net 1680-7316 1680-7324 7 5 2007 10.5194/acp-7-1395-2007 http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/1395/2007/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/1395/2007/acp-7-1395-2007.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/1395/2007/acp-7-1395-2007.pdf 1395 1406 2007-02-28 MIPAS Level 1B algorithms overview: operational processing and characterization A. Kleinert G. Aubertin G. Perron gaetan.p.perron@ca.abb.com M. Birk G. Wagner F. Hase H. Nett R. Poulin ABB Bomem Inc., 585 Blvd. Charest East, Québec, G1K 9H4, Canada Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung, Postfach 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany Remote Sensing Technology Institute, German Aerospace Centre, Muenchner Str. 20, 82234 Wessling, Germany ESTEC, Kepplerlaan 1, Noordwijk, The Netherlands This paper gives an overview of the MIPAS Level 1B (L1B) processor whose main objective is to calibrate atmospheric measurements radiometrically, spectrally and geo-located. It presents also the results of instrument characterization done on ground and during the first years in-flight. An accurate calibration is mandatory for high quality atmospheric retrievals. MIPAS has shown very good performance and stability. The noise equivalent spectral radiance ranges from 3 to 50 nW/(cm² sr cm^−1) and is well within the requirements over nearly the whole spetral range. The systematic radiometric error is estimated to be within 1 or 2% in most situations. MIPAS Level 1B Algorithm technical Baseline Document: an overview, Richard L. Lachance, Ph.D, 1999. PO-RP-BOM-GS-0003 4I: Detailed Processing Model and Parameter Data List Document (DPM) for MIPAS level 1B Processing, 2004. PO-TN-BOM-GS-0012: Algorithm Technical Baseline Document (ATBD) for MIPAS Level 1B Processing, 2002. PO-ID-DOR-SY-0032: Section 8, Measurement Data Definition and Format Description for MIPAS, 2000. Wagner, G. and Birk, M.: Improvement of DLR detector non-linearity characterization for MIPAS/Envisat. Support to MIPAS Phase E activities Technical Note, issue 1A, 29 June 2005. PO-IS-DMS-GS-00559: Re-engineering of mission analysis software for Envisat-1. PPF-POINTING software user manual, 2005. Fischer, H., Birk, M., Blom, C., Carli, B., Carlotti, M., v. Clarmann, T., Delbouille, L., Dudhia, A., Ehhalt, D., Endemann, M., Flaud, J. M., Gessner, R., Kleinert, A., Koopmann, R., Langen, J., Lopez-Puertas, M., Mosner, P., Nett, H., Oelhaf, H., Perron, G., Remedios, J., Ridolfi, M., Stiller, G., and Zander, R.: MIPAS: An Instrument for Atmospheric and Climate Research, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., to be submitted, 2007. Revercomb, H. E., Buijs, H., Howell, H. B., LaPorte, D. D., Smith, W. L., and Sromovsky, L.: Radiometric calibration of IR Fourier transform spectrometers, solution to a problem with the High-Resolution Interferometer Sounder, Appl. Opt., 27, 3210–3218, 1988. Endemann, M.: MIPAS Instrument Concept and Performance, Proceedings of European symposium on atmospheric measurements from space, Noordwijk, 19–22 January 1999, WPP-161, 29–43, 1999. Fischer, H., Blom, C., Oelhaf, H., Carli, B., Carlotti, M., Delbouille, L., Ehhalt, D., Flaud, J.-M., Isaksen, I., Lopez-Puertas, M., McElroy, C. T., and Zander, R.: Envisat – MIPAS, the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding; An instrument for atmospheric chemistry and climate research, ESA SP-1229, edited by: Readings, C. and Harris, R. A., European Space Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2000. Aubertin, G., Leroux, J., and Perron, G.: MIPAS L1B Processing Input/Output Data Definition, Technical ESA report, PO-TN-BOM-GS-0010 4E, 2002.