Gold Level L2 Molecular Oxygen Density Profile

The defining characteristic of the atmospheric transmission is that it is completely independent of instrument calibration or absolute accuracy. The full transmission spectrum is binned into a small number of 2-nm spectral channels for use in the retrievals. These retrieval channels are chosen to span the spectral dependence of the O2 absorption cross-section in order to maximize the O2 retrieval altitude range (approximately 120-240 km).

In the Version 1 O2DEN data set two spectral channels are used, centered at 142- and 159-nm. Since stars rise or set at approximately 3 km/sec, as observed from orbit, the 100-msec occultation cadence results in a measurement of extremely high (sub-km) vertical resolution. The data are binned to enhance signal-to-noise, producing an effective vertical resolution of 10 km or less, which is sufficient to easily resolve the scale height of the O2 thermospheric profile.

The algorithm uses an optimal estimation routine, which provide a complete error analysis and retrieval diagnostics such as averaging kernels and information content. A data vector constructed from the multiple spectral channels of slant path transmission is used to derive the atmospheric state vector – O2 density vs. geometric altitude – via a nonlinear, iterative inversion. The retrieved O2 density profile is reported on a fixed altitude grid with 5-km spacing.

The valid altitude range varies for each event, but generally ranges from ~120 – 240.