The Observation Capabilities of JEM/SMILES

The variation of the abundance of the stratospheric molecules is quite sensitive for the resultant climate change in the troposphere and which is called `the foot print of the climate change'. The sensitive observation of the stratospheric molecules is more important to detect the change of the minor molecules by climate change. A new generation of sub-millimeter-wave receivers employing sensitive SIS (Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) detector technology will provide new opportunities for precise remote sensing measurements of the stratospheric minor constituents on a global scale. We have estimated the observation capabilities of the SIS instruments, namely the space-station-borne JEM/SMILES instrument (Japanese Experiment Module / Sub-Millimeter Limb Emission Sounder), currently planned for launch in 2008. Based on our simulations, O3, H35Cl, H37Cl, ClO, HNO3 could be retrieved from the measurements of the JEM/SMILES limb emission sounder with a precision a few percent respectively, for a daily zonal means. The simultaneously observations of HOCl and HO2 will be possible with a precision within 20 percent. This new technology should allow us to detect the sparse alteration of the stratospheric molecules.