The Waves Michelson Interferometer (WaMI): A Doppler imager for the dynamics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere
Abstract
A field-widened Michelson interferometer, the Waves Michelson interferometer (WaMI) has been designed for satellite observations of wind, temperature and constituents from the upper stratosphere to the thermosphere (40 - 180 km). This instrument is a refinement of the WIND Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) and incorporates a segmented mirror and simultaneous multiemission observations. The primary emissions to be observed include lines in the O2 (1 ∆delta) band at 1.27 microns, a hydroxyl line at 1.315 microns and the oxygen green line. Winds are derived from fringe phase variations which can be related to Doppler shifts associated with winds in the emitting region and temperature through rotational temperature measurements and Doppler broadening. In addition, through a careful choice of emission lines in the O2 (1 ∆delta) band, differential absorption effects can be used to derive density. The segmented mirror ensures that aliasing of atmospheric waves into the inteferograms does not occur and analyses of constituents are undertaken with the same parcel of air. Based on the conceptual design, a breadboard model of this instrument has been constructed. This paper will review the instrument design and capabilities and describe the breadboard model and associated results.
- Publication:
-
37th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008cosp...37.3424W