A Preliminary Study on the Possibility of Estimating Total Atmospheric Ozone from Satellite Measurements

Abstract This paper is concerned with a preliminary study of the feasibility of determining total atmospheric ozone from satellite measurements of the solar ultraviolet radiation diffusely reflected by the earth's atmosphere. The atmospheric model used is plane-stratified, and the evaluation of the radiation field takes into account all orders of Rayleigh scattering. In addition, the model provides for variations in the total amount and vertical distribution of ozone, as well as the Lambert reflectivity and pressure at the effective base of the atmosphere. The results indicate that the wavelength region in which measurements should be made lies between about 3125 and 3175 A, if the observations are restricted to the nadir direction. Wavelengths shorter than 3125 A do not penetrate adequately through the ozone layer and do not, therefore, contain information on total ozone content. On the other hand, wavelengths much longer than 3175 A although they penetrate the ozone layer, in general offer rather poor s...