TIMS 1.6 micron Measurement of Atmospheric CO2 and CH4

The Tropospheric Infrared Mapping Spectrometers (TIMS) were originally developed with support from the NASA ESTO Instrument Incubator program (IIP). These were designed to operate in the spectral regions of the CO overtone and fundamental bands at about 2.33 and 4.67 microns, respectively. In the IIP it was shown these could provide measurements of CO vertical structure, with area coverage rate and spatial resolution that would satisfy GEO-CAPE requirements as laid out in the NRC Decadal Survey report. Since completion of the IIP there has been further internally supported development discussed by Kumer et al, Aerospace Conference, 2013 IEEE. In this presentation we describe a demonstration of TIMS capability in a third wavelength region with two orders operating from approximately 1602 to 1616 nm, and from 1646 to 1660 nm. We will discuss and illustrate the reversible conversion of the 2.33 TIMS for operation at 1600 - 1660 nm; the high quality of the spectral mages and excellent agreement with models; and automated calibration algorithms. The figures show a wavelength calibrated spectral image and excellent agreement of the data and model on a spectrum extracted from the image. Fig 1. Wavelength-calibrated image of sunlight through atmosphere, with methane lines. Yellow box outlines the rows averaged for profile.

Fig 2. Calibrated spectral profile, data fit to modeled atmosphere H₂O, CO₂, and CH₄.