The novel HALO mini-DOAS instrument: inferring trace gas concentrations from airborne UV/visible limb spectroscopy under all skies using the scaling method

• Published in: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
• Main Authors: T. Hüneke, O.-A. Aderhold, J. Bounin, M. Dorf, E. Gentry, K. Grossmann, J.-U. Grooß, P. Hoor, P. Jöckel, M. Kenntner, M. Knapp, M. Knecht, D. Lörks, S. Ludmann, S. Matthes, R. Raecke, M. Reichert, J. Weimar, B. Werner, A. Zahn, H. Ziereis, K. Pfeilsticker
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2017
• Subjects: Environmental engineering; TA170-171; Earthwork. Foundations; TA715-787; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-4209-2017; https://doaj.org/article/ea2bdf03a5da431caee62241609dd003

We report on a novel six-channel optical spectrometer (further on called mini-DOAS instrument) for airborne nadir and limb measurements of atmospheric trace gases, liquid and solid water, and spectral radiances in the UV/vis and NIR spectral ranges. The spectrometer was developed for measurements from aboard the German High-Altitude and Long-Range (HALO) research aircraft during dedicated research missions. Here we report on the relevant instrumental details and the novel scaling method used to infer the mixing ratios of UV/vis absorbing trace gases from their absorption measured in limb geometry. The uncertainties of the scaling method are assessed in more detail than before for sample measurements of NO 2 and BrO. Some first results are reported along with complementary measurements and comparisons with model predictions for a selected HALO research flight from Cape Town to Antarctica, which was performed during the research mission ESMVal on 13 September 2012.