Determination of vertical ozone distributions by spacecraft measurements using a limb-scan technique

The principle of a new inversion technique which uses multiple wavelength-solar UV radiation satellite measurements for determining vertical ozone profiles is described, and examples of computer simulations for 280, 300, 320, and 340 nm are discussed. Weighting functions corresponding to the sensitivity of the limb radiance to the relative ozone density at each altitude are the basis for the inversion equation, which is then solved by an iteration technique. The use of multiple wavelengths can provide more information of higher accuracy over a wider height range than those profiles recovered at a single wavelength. It is indicated that an effective range of altitude of approximately 20-70 km with a vertical resolution of 1-2 km is feasible for determining ozone profiles with an inferred profile error about three to four times larger than the measurement error within that altitude region. Ozone profile accuracy of the highest altitude region may be improved using wavelengths down to 260 nm, and inferred ozone profiles above 70 km are possible, but with a larger error.