Altitude registration analysis and ozone profile retrieval using SCIAMACHY limb scattering measurements

Tangent height registration remains one of the most challenging problems for retrieving atmospheric composition profiles from limb scattering observations, mainly because, unlike solar occultation, there is no well-defined target. Pointing inaccuracy has been identified as one of the main contributors to Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) limb precision errors between the tropopause and the ozone peak. In this work, we investigate the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) pointing offset using scene-based tangent height algorithm and correlative measurements to evaluate SCIAMACHY altitude registration. After correcting for altitude offset, the measured limb radiances are used to retrieve ozone profiles using the OMPS LP algorithm, which is in turn, compared to correlative measurements. Preliminary results show the retrieved ozone profiles were within 5-10% of SAGE II at altitude range of 20-30 km. The new detected altitude offset is 100 m.