Imaging Geostationary Fourier Transform Spectrometer-revolutionary tool for tropospheric chemistry

The Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its 2004 New Millennium Program mission. The GIFTS geophysical data products are derived from measurements of atmospheric thermal emission in 2 spectral bands: 685-1130 cm/sup -1/ and 1650-2250 cm/sup -1/, at high spectral resolution (up to 0.3 cm/sup -1/) on a 4-km spatial grid. Among key data products are vertically-resolved distributions of ozone and carbon monoxide. Vertical resolution attainable is in the range of 3- to 11-km, depending on a target gas and altitude. To evaluate the GIFTS capability for atmospheric chemistry studies, e.g., sources, sinks, transport and transformation of trace gas, simulations of the GIFTS observations have been performed. Real aircraft in situ profiles and results of the Harvard 3-D model were used as inputs for the simulations.