Modelling of non-LTE limb spectra of i.r. ozone bands for the MIPAS space experiment

A new model for calculating the populations of the ozone vibrational states under non-LTE (Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium) conditions is presented. In the model, 23 vibrational levels of the O3 molecule, as well as three vibrational levels of the O2 molecule and two vibrational levels of the N2 molecule, are considered. The radiative transfer at the break-down of LTE was treated explicitly for 150000 ro-vibrational transitions. The populations obtained were used to calculate limb radiances in various spectral regions of the 4.8 and 9.6 μm bands. Test retrievals of O3 vertical volume mixing ratio (VMR) profiles with a radiance model disregarding non-LTE were performed in order to assess the potential impact of non-LTE effects on the retrieval of the O3 abundances from MIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding) measurements. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.