NOAA satellites and solar backscatter ultra violet (SBUV) subsystems #20

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation is a component of cosmic radiation that represents a health hazard to humans and indeed to many types of flora and fauna. Ultraviolet and X-ray radiation has the ability to penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. Ultraviolet (UV) and even more energetic X-ray radiation can have harmful effects on human health, including cellular damage in living tissues that can cause genetic mutations and skin cancer. Stratospheric ozone generally prevents damaging ultraviolet radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface. This protective function of ozone plays an important role in regulating the temperature structure of the atmosphere and climate system. Monitoring stratospheric ozone is an important endeavor for many reasons, including assessing the recovery of ozone levels following the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and subsequent amendments. Long-term and global mapping of total column ozone and the ozone vertical profile are thus essential functions. These ozone monitoring functions can be provided by satellite-based remote sensing instruments. This chapter examines the Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SBUV) instruments on weather satellites operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). SBUV instruments have captured the longest continuous record of ozone measurements since the Nimbus -4 satellite was launched in April 1970. This chapter first details the development of the SBUV instrument and its operational timeline. A technical overview of SBUV instrument mechanics and operation is provided, as well as a review of calibration procedures, retrieval algorithms, and sources of error. Finally, primary applications and benefits of SBUV subsystems for measuring global ozone distribution are presented in some detail. In addition, future challenges and developments for collecting high vertical resolution and temporal ozone data are addressed. The long-term operation of the SBUV family of instruments has supported a successful ozone monitoring program. However, combined instrumentation from next-generation NOAA weather satellites is required in order to continue an unbroken ozone record. Such observations are necessary for supporting trend studies and model testing for forecasting what global ozone levels will be in the future.