Near Infrared Laser Spectroscopy of Water Vapor
EMSL Project ID
1630
Abstract
We will use the EMSL near-infrared (NIR) laser system to record absorption spectra of water vapor in a long-pass White cell that is located at the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. The laser system is portable and will be transported to NASA/Ames. Thomas A. Blake and Robert L. Sams of PNNL/EMSL will set up and operate the laser system at Ames. The project (NASA) will provide funding for travel for Blake and Sams. Visible-near-infrared solar energy deposited in the Earth's atmosphere is the engine for our weather and prediction of future Earth climate scenarios will rest on understanding observations of our current atmosphere in terms of individual opacity and scattering sources. A measure of incremental contributions to this energy deposit is called atmospheric forcing. Various components of the atmosphere, specifically, aerosols, clouds and gaseous components, can all contribute. The subject of the research proposed here bears directly on solar radiative forcing due to gas phase water molecules. To this end the research proposed below focuses on gaps in our knowledge and understanding of aspects of the H2O spectrum relevant to the transfer of radiant energy in the Earth's atmosphere. These spectral measurements will clarify the far-wing line shape, which is needed for the calculation of H2O opacity in the atmosphere.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2000-01-01
End Date
2003-01-02
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator