Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/Z/S/2003/00640
SOFIE: Spectroscopy Of the Far Infrared Emission spectrum of the Earth: Science and technology development in preparation for future space missions.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor JE Harries, Imperial College London, Physics
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor P Ade, Cardiff University, School of Physics and Astronomy
- Grant held at:
- Imperial College London, Physics
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Water In The Atmosphere
- Radiative Processes & Effects
- Tropospheric Processes
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- The Earth maintains a balance between radiative energy absorbed from the sun, which heats the planet, and emission to space in the infrared, which cools the planet. The processes which control and moderate these two fluxes of energy are highly complex. We now have in place orbiting satellites that measure the sunlight absorbed by the Earth, and reflected by the clouds and surface, in the visible or shortwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum; also, we have systems which measure a part of the infrared energy that is cooling the Earth, in order to maintain a balanced equilibrium state. However, one simple, striking fact is that for a number of reasons (such as technology limitations) a large part of the infrared spectrum, the far infrared, or FIR, has never been measured from space. In the last decade, however, research in the UK, the USA and elsewhere has shown us that, far from being an unimportant part of the spectrum as some people thought, where energy levels were low and insignificant, this FIR part of the spectrum actually contributes in some cases up to almost one half of the total energy being emitted from the Earth to space. Research has also shown that simulating these emission processes cannot be done with accuracy sufficient to be confident about climate change effects (e.g. a major mechanism is emission from high, cold cirrus clouds, which is very challenging to simulate accurately). Therefore, we are in the unfortunate position that we are unaware of how the FIR emission may be varying, how it might be contributing to changes in our climate balance, through greenhouse type processes, and whether our complex climate prediction models are sufficiently accurate in their depiction of these FIR processes, or need to be improved. SOFIE is a project that seeks to address this problem. We aim to develop ideas for an efficient, modern instrument that could be used in future space missions to measure this important FIR component of the emission spectrum of the Earth. In order to do that, we first must simulate the FIR spectrum as well as we can using advanced radiative transfer models, forced with atmospheric data (pressures, temperatures, humidities, cloudiness) taken from data assimilation procedures, in which observed atmospheric states and modelled states are merged into a best description of past states of the atmosphere. These simulations of the radiative emissions will serve to give us information about how the atmospheric emission spectrum varies with time and with position around the Earth. This will tell us the magnitude of spectral signal, and of the natural variability of that signal, that we need to be able to resolve using any new space instrument. Then, in the final stage of the project, we put together a 'bread-board' or laboratory test version of the instrument, using a number of recent developments in sensitive detectors, lightweight cooling systems, and new optical components, to produce as efficient a spectrometer as possible. This spectrometer will then be tested in laboratory vacuum facilities, and become a basis for planning, with space agencies, for a future observing mission, in which the FIR spectrum of the Earth is monitored and studied, and its role in climate change and variability is determined.
- Period of Award:
- 27 Feb 2004 - 26 Feb 2007
- Value:
- £116,812 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NER/Z/S/2003/00640
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- EO Programmes Pre FEC2
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- New Observing Techniques
This grant award has a total value of £116,812
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £2,344 | £77,401 | £1,461 | £35,604 |
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