Validation of the MOPITT-A instrument through radiative transfer modelling and laboratory calibration

Abstract

This thesis presents the characterization and calibration of the MOPITT-A instrument which uses the technique of correlation spectroscopy to ensure carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. A theoretical model is developed for the instrument and compared to MOPITT-A measurements collected under controlled laboratory conditions, which were designed to emulate atmospheric signals. It is shown that the model and measurements are in very good agreement with each other and that the MOPITT-A instrument behaves as expected. It was found that the gain of the instrument varies with time. The cause of the gain variation is not known but it is suggested that frosting inside the detector nest would be consistent with the observed nature of the variation.