A brief introduction and some background to the article JQSRT 1998;60:1025–31 and its companion

This note provides a short introduction, some background information and relevant history related to reprint of the article “Atmospheric remote-sensing reference data from GOME: Part 1. Temperature-dependent absorption cross-sections of NO2 in the 231–794 nm range” (JQSRT 1998;60:1025–31). The article and its companion “Atmospheric remote-sensing reference data from GOME: 2. Temperature-dependent absorption cross sections of O3 in the 231–794 nm range” (JQSRT 1999;61:509–17) provided timely and unique data sets of the absorption cross sections of Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, and ozone, O3. The reported absorption cross sections have a spectral resolution sufficient to distinguish the electronic vibrational and rotational features of NO2 and O3 and were made in the temperature range of relevance to the earth's atmosphere, viz. 200–300 K, over a wide spectral range. These species are two of the most important trace gases in earth's atmosphere, and play key roles in determining the chemistry and dynamics of the earth's atmosphere and the conditions at the earth's surface experienced by the biosphere. Whilst providing valuable information about the electronic states of NO2 and O3, these spectra were determined primarily for their exploitation in the retrieval of trace gases from measurements of solar back scattered radiation by ground based and space borne instrumentation. These yield the local and global amounts and distributions of NO2 and O3, thereby constraining our knowledge about atmospheric chemistry and dynamics and the impact of pollution from the local to the global scale. The measurement, publication and use of these spectral sets are among many important milestones in the development of atmospheric remote sensing