An asymptotic expansion approach to the inverse radiative transfer problem

An iterative technique which recovers density profiles in a nonhomogeneous absorbing atmosphere is derived. The technique is based on the concept of factoring a function of the density profile into the product of a known term and a term which is not known, but whose power series expansion can be found. This series converges rapidly under a wide range of conditions. A demonstration example of simulated data from a high resolution infrared heterodyne instrument is inverted. For the examples studied, the technique is shown to be capable of extracting features of ozone profiles in the troposphere and to be particularly stable.