ATMOS data processing and science analysis methods

Abstract

The ATMOS (atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy) instrument, a high speed Fourier transform spectrometer operating in the middle IR (2.2-16 microm), recorded more than 1500 solar spectra at approximately 0.0105-cm(-1) resolution during its first mission onboard the shuttle Challenger in the spring of 1985. These spectra were acquired during high sun conditions for studies of the solar atmosphere and during low sun conditions for studies of the earth's upper atmosphere. This paper describes the steps by which the telemetry data were converted into spectra suitable for analysis, the analysis software and methods developed for the atmospheric and solar studies, and the ATMOS data analysis facility.