PCW/PHEOS-WCA: Quasi-geostationary Arctic measurements for weather, climate, and air quality from highly eccentric orbits

  • Richard L. Lachance
  • , John C. McConnell
  • , C. Tom McElroy
  • , Norm O'Neill
  • , Ray Nassar
  • , Henry Buijs
  • , Peyman Rahnama
  • , Kaley Walker
  • , Randall Martin
  • , Chris Sioris
  • , Louis Garand
  • , Alexander Trichtchenko
  • , Martin Bergeron

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The PCW (Polar Communications and Weather) mission is a dual satellite mission with each satellite in a highly eccentric orbit with apogee ~42,000 km and a period (to be decided) in the 12-24 hour range to deliver continuous communications and meteorological data over the Arctic and environs. Such as satellite duo can give 24×7 coverage over the Arctic. The operational meteorological instrument is a 21-channel spectral imager similar to the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). The PHEOS-WCA (weather, climate and air quality) mission is intended as an atmospheric science complement to the operational PCW mission. The target PHEOS-WCA instrument package considered optimal to meet the full suite of science team objectives consists of FTS and UVS imaging sounders with viewing range of ~4.5°or a Field of Regard (FoR) ~ 3400×3400 km2 from near apogee. The goal for the spatial resolution at apogee of each imaging sounder is 10×10 km2 or better and the goal for the image repeat time is targeted at ~2 hours or better. The FTS has 4 bands that span the MIR and NIR with a spectral resolution of 0.25 cm â̂'1. They should provide vertical tropospheric profiles of temperature and water vapour in addition to partial columns of many other gases of interest for air quality. The two NIR bands target columns of CO 2, CH4 and aerosol optical depth (OD). The UVS is an imaging spectrometer that covers the spectral range of 280-650 nm with 0.9 nm resolution and targets the tropospheric column densities of O3 and NO2 and several other Air Quality (AQ) gases as well the Aerosol Index (AI).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XVI
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Print)9780819492739
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
EventSensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XVI - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Duration: Sep 24 2012Sep 27 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8533
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceSensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XVI
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityEdinburgh
Period09/24/1209/27/12

Keywords

  • aerosols
  • air quality
  • boreal forest burning
  • FTS MIR-NIR Imager
  • Geostationary Viewing
  • GHG
  • UVS Imager
  • weather forecasting

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