Remote Sensing of Stratospheric Trace Constituents using Millimeter Wave Radiometry

The MIRA-Team (M_I_crowave R_A_diometry) is operating a 278 GHz radiometer system, which is intended for long term ground-based monitoring of vertical profiles of stratospheric ClO, Ozone, HNO3 and N2O. To improve the measurement of weak lines and to allow operation over a wider range of weather conditions an advanced balancing technique has been implemented.

Measurement campaigns have been carried out at Kiruna, Sweden (February / March 1996, January - April 1998, February / March 1999, November 1999 - March 2000, December 2000 - March 2001), on the Zugspitze (February - July 2003), and at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (March 1997).

Since March 2004 the instrument is operated on Pico Espejo at Mérida in Venezuela. Another instrument, the ground-based millimeter wave radiometer KIMRA, is almost continuously operated in cooperation with the Swedish Institute of Space Physics at Kiruna since 2002.

For comments mail to Jochen Groß