MODEL

Atmospheric profile model

Attributes

integer | discrete | dynamic | unit-less | basic

Description

The variable MODEL selects one of the predefined model atmospheres or specified from radiosonde data, thus defining the vertical structure of the atmosphere in terms of pressure, temperature and gas concentration (specifically H2O and O3). The available options are shown in the Table below:

Value(s)Description

0

No Gaseous Absorption
Atmospheric gasses are removed from the atmospheric vertical structure, thus absorption and scattering are only due to suspended matter (aerosols).

1

Tropical *
Default H2O content: 4.12 g·cm-2. Default O3 content: 0.247 cm-atm

2

Mid-Latitude Summer * Default value
Default H2O content: 2.93 g·cm-2. Default O3 content: 0.319 cm-atm

3

Mid-Latitude Winter *
Default H2O content: 0.853 g·cm-2. Default O3 content: 0.395 cm-atm

4

Sub-Arctic Summer *
Default H2O content: 2.1 g·cm-2. Default O3 content: 0.48 cm-atm

5

Sub-Arctic Winter *
Default H2O content: 0.419 g·cm-2. Default O3 content: 0.48 cm-atm

6

US Standard 1962 *
Default H2O content: 1.42 g·cm-2. Default O3 content: 0.344 cm-atm

-1

User's database profile Not yet implemented!
A user-defined profile described by the altitude(in km), pressure (in mb), temperature (in K), H2O density (in g·cm-3) and O3 density (in g·cm-3) at 34 layers

8

UW and UO3
Vertically-uniform profiles of H2O and O3 with user-input values of their content in g·cm-2 (for H2O) and cm-atm (for O3).

* Same model atmospheres from (McClatchey et al., 1972) as implemented in LOWTRAN and MODTRAN codes.

This variable, therefore, has an impact on the simulation of the absorption-scattering processes at various altitudes in the sun-target-sensor optical path.

The predefined columnar content of H2O and O3 in each model can be overwritten respectively by the key input variables H2O and O3.

References

  • McClatchey, R.A., Fenn, R.W., Shelby, J.E.A., Volz, F.E., & Garing, J.S., (1972), "Optical properties of the atmosphere." 3rd Ed., Tech. Rep. AFCRL72-0497, 108 pp. Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, Hanscom AFB, Mass.