GRIPS-HI, a novel spectral imager for ground based measurements of mesopause temperatures

Johannes Stehr; Peter Knieling; Friedhelm Olschewski; Klaus Mantel; Martin Kaufmann; Ralf Koppmann

doi:10.1515/teme-2021-0043

Article

GRIPS-HI, a novel spectral imager for ground based measurements of mesopause temperatures

Johannes Stehr
Johannes Stehr is a doctoral student at the institute for atmospheric and environmental research at the university of Wuppertal. He studied physics (M. Sc.) with a focus on physical optics at the university of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
, Peter Knieling , Friedhelm Olschewski , Klaus Mantel , Martin Kaufmann and Ralf Koppmann

Published/Copyright: September 3, 2021

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From the journal tm - Technisches Messen Volume 88 Issue 10

Abstract

The NDMC (Network for the Detection of Mesospheric Change) is a global network of measurement sites dedicated to the surveillance of the mesopause region. One main objective of the network is the early identification of climate signals. A key parameter is the mesopause temperature which can be derived from the emission spectrum of a layer of vibrationally excited hydroxyl (OH) at an altitude of approximately 87 km. Foremost, emission lines in the SWIR regime between 1520 nm and 1550 nm are of interest for remote temperature sensing. This report deals with the development of a new generation of GRIPS instruments, which are commonly employed for the observation of mesopause temperatures. The new prototype demonstrates how the application of so called Spatial Heterodyne Interferometers (SHI) can overcome the limitations of currently used grating spectrometers, in terms of spectral resolution and optical throughput. The presented prototype proposes improvements in optical throughput and spectral resolution of about one order of magnitude, significantly reducing the uncertainties of the measured mesopause temperatures. Furthermore, an SHI can be built in monolithic configurations which are aligned and characterized once during assembly without the need of realignment at the measurement site. This makes SHI based instruments ideal for mobile applications.

Zusammenfassung

Das NDMC (Network for the Detection of Mesospheric Change) ist ein weltweites Netzwerk zur Überwachung der Mesopausenregion. Ein zentrales Ziel des Netzwerks ist die Früherkennung von Klimaveränderungen. Ein Schlüssel dazu ist die Temperatur der Mesopause, welche aus dem Emissionsspektrum einer Schicht angeregter Hydroxyl-Moleküle (OH) in etwa 87 km Höhe abgeleitet werden kann. Für bodengebundene Messungen sind in erster Linie Spektrallinien im kurzwelligen Infrarotbereich (SWIR) zwischen 1520 nm und 1550 nm relevant. Diese Arbeit behandelt die Entwicklung einer neuen Generation von Messgeräten der Art GRound based Infrared P-branch Spectrometer (GRIPS), welche häufig zur Messung der Mesopausentemperatur eingesetzt werden. Der neue Prototyp verdeutlicht, wie die Verwendung von sogenannten räumlich heterodynen Interferometern (SHI) die Beschränkungen aktuell genutzter Gitterspektrometer hinsichlich spektraler Auflösung und Lichtstärke überwinden kann. Das vorgestellte Konzept ermöglicht eine simultane Erhöhung von Lichtstärke und spektraler Auflösung um jeweils etwa eine Größenordnung, wodurch die Unsicherheiten bei Messung der Mesopausentemperatur signifikant reduziert werden können. Zusätzlich eignen sich SHI, welche als monolithische Baugruppen realisiert werden können, besonders für den mobilen Einsatz.

Keywords: Remote temperature sensing; spatial heterodyne interferometer; Fourier spectroscopy; atmospheric science

Schlagwörter: Fernerkundung; räumlich heterodynes Interferometer; Fourierspektroskopie; Atmosphärenphysik

Funding source: European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research

Award Identifier / Grant number: 16ENV03

Funding statement: Part of this work has been funded by the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) within the joint research project Metrology for Earth Observation and Climate (16ENV03 MetEOC-3). The EMPIR initiative is co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the EMPIR participating States.

About the author

Johannes Stehr

Johannes Stehr is a doctoral student at the institute for atmospheric and environmental research at the university of Wuppertal. He studied physics (M. Sc.) with a focus on physical optics at the university of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

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Received: 2021-03-15

Accepted: 2021-08-20

Published Online: 2021-09-03

Published in Print: 2021-10-31

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2021-0043

Keywords for this article

Remote temperature sensing; spatial heterodyne interferometer; Fourier spectroscopy; atmospheric science