Atmospheric Composition Retrievals Using Simulated Panchromatic Fourier Transform Spectrometer (panfts) Measurements

The National Research Council Earth Science Decadal Survey recommended the Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission to make unprecedented measurements of the spatial and temporal variabilities of trace gases and aerosols that influence air quality over North America, and to improve emission estimates of O3 and aerosol precursors, including human and natural sources and pollutant transport into, across, and out of North, Central, and South America. From geostationary Earth orbit near 100°W longitude, GEO-CAPE will be capable of mapping North and South America from 45°S to 50°N at about hourly intervals. To properly address air quality, the Decadal Survey highlighted the need for vertical profile measurements with sensitivity to the lowermost troposphere. The Panchromatic Fourier Transform Spectrometer (PanFTS) is a project within the NASA Instrument Incubator Program to demonstrate an instrument capable of meeting or exceeding GEO-CAPE science requirements. With continuous sensitivity from 0.26 to 15 micron and high spectral resolution, PanFTS combines the functionality of separate UV, visible and IR instruments in a single package and is designed to measure all of the trace species relevant to GEO-CAPE. This presentation will discuss results from retrievals of O3, CO, CH4, SO2 and NH3 using simulated PanFTS measurements over the continental US.