HR: 14:25h
AN: SA23B-04 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: SHIMMER on STPSat-1: UV Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy for Space Based Remote Sensing of the Middle Atmosphere
AU: * Englert, C R
EM: christoph.englert@nrl.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7641 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20375 United States
AU: Cardon, J G
EM: joel.cardon@nrl.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7641 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20375 United States
AU: Stevens, M H
EM: michael.stevens@nrl.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7641 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20375 United States
AU: Harlander, J M
EM: harlander@stcloudstate.edu
AF: St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301 United States
AU: Roesler, F L
EM: roesler@wisp.physics.wisc.edu
AF: University of Wisconsin - Madison, B305 Sterling Hall 475 N Charter St, Madison, WI 53706 United States
AB: SHIMMER, the Spatial Heterodyne Imager for Mesospheric Radicals is the primary payload of STPSat-1, a small satellite scheduled to be launched in late 2006 with a minimal lifetime of one year. SHIMMER will use Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (SHS) to measure the limb brightness at 32 tangent altitudes with high spectral resolution (0.012nm) in a narrow bandpass around 308 nm. The solar resonance fluorescence of hydroxyl (OH) will be reduced from the limb profiles and inverted to provide OH concentration profiles for low to mid latitudes (up to 57 degrees). Since OH is a good proxy for water vapor in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere, water vapor concentrations will also be available from the data. We will review the basics of SHS, its differences and similarities to other spectroscopic techniques, and its suitability for the measurement of middle atmospheric OH in the UV. The specific design of SHIMMER on STPSat-1, which includes a monolithic SHS interferometer, will be presented. We will give a brief overview of the primary science goals of the SHIMMER on STPSat-1 mission and discuss the projected scientific return in context of its latitudinal coverage, atmospheric lighting conditions, and planned operations. In conclusion we will discuss the ability to make Polar Mesospheric Cloud observations with this instrument and how it can complement the NASA AIM (Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere) mission, also scheduled for launch in late 2006. SHIMMER is a joint effort between the Naval Research Laboratory and the DoD Space Test Program (SMC/TEL)
DE: 0340 Middle atmosphere--composition and chemistry
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting