Tropospheric Infrared Mapping Spectrometers (TIMS) to Provide Measurements with much Improved Vertical, Temporal and Spatial Resolution in the Lower Troposphere

The Earth Science Decadal Survey Report of the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) describes requirements for improved atmospheric measurements to gain crucial understanding for air quality, climate change, and weather [1]. Improved vertical and horizontal resolution, temporal resolution and coverage are required. Our NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) project is responsive as it is focused on demonstrating a Tropospheric Infrared Mapping Spectrometers (TIMS) technology that would provide considerably improved vertical and horizontal resolution, temporal resolution and coverage for measurements of Carbon Monoxide CO. It uses the CO solar reflective band near 2.3 μm and thermal emissive near 4.65 μm. It would also facilitate improved measurements of CH
₄
, and H
₂
O partial columns (vertical information), including considerable improvement in the boundary layer. The technology readily extrapolates to spectral regions that provide for retrieval of other important species (e.g., 9.6 and 3.6 μm for ozone O
₃
and formaldehyde HCOH) [2,3]. We describe the TIMS hardware and demonstration measurements, and a concept for application by the NRC mission GEO-CAPE.