Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy and spacfeborne remote sensing of the Earth's atmosphere

Current capabilities for ultraviolet and visible spectroscopic measurements of the Earth’s stratosphere and troposphere are reviewed. Atmospheric spectral properties are described. The major measurement geometries and types are presented. Instrumental, spectroscopic, and radiative transfer modeling challenges are discussed. Current and planned satellite instruments for this field, with their measurement properties, spectral coverage, and target molecules are presented. Measurement examples include stratospheric and tropospheric NO2 , tropospheric BrO in the polar spring, global tropospheric HCHO, and tropospheric ozone measurements from the nadir geometry. The field is shown to be sufficiently mature that global measurements of atmospheric pollution from space may be undertaken. To cite this article: K. Chance, C. R. Physique 6 (2005).