Stratospheric Temperature Observations by Narrow Bands Ultra-High Spectral Resolution Sounder from Nadir-Viewing Satellites

Accurate stratospheric temperature observations are crucial for weather forecasts and climate change studies. This paper discusses a precise measurement method for the stratospheric temperature profile using narrow bands with ultra-high spectral resolution from nadir-viewing satellites. First, the CO2 absorption band around 15 μm is selected as the major sounding source by the calculation and analysis of the temperature Jacobian and the atmospheric molecular spectra. Next, the influence of spectral resolution, spectral range and instrumental noise on the sounding capability is analyzed, and the sounding feasibility of the single spectral band and multiple spectral bands is discussed under the condition that the spaceborne long-wave infrared space heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) is selected as suggested sounder onboard the satellite. Finally, the optimal joint-sounding scheme of narrow bands is proposed. The temperature retrieval and validation show that the joint-sounding of two discontinuous narrow bands can realize the high precision measurement of the stratospheric temperature profile for the given spectral resolution, spectral range, and instrumental noise. When the sounder adopts two narrow bands (the regions of 666.87–676.44 cm−1 and 683.58–693.15 cm−1) and a spectral resolution of 0.03 cm−1, the retrieval accuracy (RMSE) is about 0.9 K over a pressure range of 200 to 0.7 hPa (11.5–50 km). This study will provide technical preparation for high-precision and low-cost satellite sounder design for stratospheric temperature observations.