Error Estimates for Passive Satellite Measurement of Surface Pressure Using Absorption in the A Band of Oxygen

Abstract

This paper investigates the feasibility of satellite remote sensing of surface pressure using radiometric measurements in the oxygen A band. It is shown out the primary sources of error are the uncertainties in the temperature profile, the surface reflection coefficient, and the aerosol loading. The impact of each of these errors upon the surface pressure is estimated. Pressure measurements to better than 2 hPa accuracy appear possible in principle over a wide range of surface reflectances if the temperature profile is known to an accuracy of 1 K, if the aerosol loading is known to an accuracy of 10%, and if instrumental noise can be limited to 0.1%. However, the calculations of this paper suggest that the radiometer must sample over extremely narrow spectral windows (1 cm?1) if this accuracy is to be achieved.