Improving retrieval quality for airborne limb sounders by horizontal regularisation

This can be exploited by retrieving whole 2-D cross-sections instead of simple 1-D profiles. This paper presents algorithms that are able to perform such a large-scale retrieval and that efficiently produce typical diagnostic quantities.

The characteristics and capabilities of the proposed method are analysed and demonstrated in a detailed case study using a series of profiles that were measured by CRISTA-NF (Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescope for the Atmosphere-New Frontiers). It is shown that cross-section retrievals can either reduce noise-induced artefacts or produce finer vertical structures while maintaining the same image noise level.