Recent Topics about the GOSAT TANSO-FTS SWIR L2 Retrievals

Abstract:

The column-averaged dry air mole fractions of carbon dioxide and methane (XCO₂ and XCH₄) have been retrieved globally from the Short-Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR) spectral data observed with the Thermal And Near-infrared Sensor for carbon Observation Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS) onboard Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT). The retrieval results have been released as the GOSAT TANSO-FTS SWIR L2 product, and there are two related topics recently.

From mid-June, 2014, the TANSO-FTS has recorded interferograms with the zero-path difference (ZPD) position shifted about 800 fringes from its nominal position to avoid the operation with an unstable condition after the sudden shutdown of GOSAT by solar paddle accident at the end of May, 2014. This brings slightly, but non-negligible lower spectral resolution on the observed spectrum. If the nominal instrumental line shape function (ILSF) is used in the retrieval analysis, a beat structure is appeared in the residual spectrum and the retrieved XCO₂ and XCH₄ show negative bias. The ILSF considering the 800-fringe bias of the ZPD position is provided by JAXA, and the most of the beat structure are disappeared by using this ILSF. The retrieval accuracy and precision will be evaluated until the presentation.

Other topic is the evaluation of the sample of the new TANSO-FTS L1B product. JAXA plans to implement following items for SWIR spectrum in the new version; (i) new sampling interval non-uniformity correction (SINUC), (ii) updated non-linearity correction, and (iii) unified spectral resolution to avoid the ZPD position shift. Preliminary evaluation shows that the new SINUC can remove a small bias in the XCO₂ and XCH₄ due to the scan direction. Further evaluation as well as the latest status of the L2 version up are also presented.