HR: 17:11h
AN: A34A-03 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: A Brief History of Infrared Limb Scanning
AU: * Gille, J
EM: gille@ucar.edu
AF: National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, United States
AU: * Gille, J
EM: gille@ucar.edu
AF: Center for Limb Atmospheric Sounding, University of Colorado at Boulder P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, United States
AB: I shall give a brief and non-technical description of the development of this technique, in which I have been deeply involved. I think it makes an interesting story, and also illustrates some general principles. Limb scanning allows the detailed observation of the composition and structure of the upper troposphere and stratosphere. It began with some serendipitous consulting, went on to a speculative paper, and a successful proposal. However, things turned out to be more difficult than first imagined. A major technical barrier surfaced, but a breakthrough in data processing overcame it. After many smaller but no less challenging and interesting difficulties, there were some notable successes. After a brief look at the future, I'll close with some general thoughts.
DE: 0340 Middle atmosphere: composition and chemistry
DE: 0341 Middle atmosphere: constituent transport and chemistry (3334)
DE: 1700 HISTORY OF GEOPHYSICS
DE: 1794 Instruments and techniques
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly