Measurement of vertical distribution of ozone from a polar orbiting satellite

Abstract

A satellite-borne radiometer has been used to determine the vertical distribution of ozone at high altitudes. The attenuation, due to the ozone, of solar ultraviolet radiation passing obliquely through the atmosphere was measured at times of sunrise and sunset, as seen by the orbiting vehicle. The sensor employed a photomultiplier tube and filter combination plus a quartz light pipe which allowed a uniformly sensitive field of view of ±10° in elevation and 360° in azimuth. A transition from full sunlight to signal extinction or vice versa occurred in a period of about 20 seconds twice per orbit. The shape of this step has been analyzed with a 7090 computer program to deduce the vertical ozone distribution at altitudes above the maximum. The orbital parameters were such that sunset and sunrise occurred when the vehicle was near 33°S and 13°S latitude, respectively. Preliminary results are essentially in agreement with earlier rocket measurements of Johnson et al. and do not indicate a secondary high-altitude maximum as reported by Venkateswaran et al.