This paper first presents a general description of an atmospheric remote sensing method using ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry in spectral measurement & inversion. The method is proposed & analyzed as a possible substitute to radiosondes in the context of three specific applications. First, the method is evaluated for predicting slant path transmittances based on retrieved profiles of temperature & water vapour. The potential of this approach is verified through calculations performed to compare transmittances generated with radiosonde profiles and retrieved profiles. Second, the remote detection of pollutants by FTIR emission spectroscopy usually requires that the background atmospheric contribution be subtracted from measurement, leading to a background-free signature from which mixing ratios can be estimated. An analysis is performed to evaluate the accuracy of computing spectral residuals based on retrieved profiles rather than radiosonde profiles. Finally, ground-based observations of cloud emissions in the infrared leads to investigation of a simple method for estimating the transmittance & apparent temperature of clouds. The method takes advantage of the cloud extinction effects on the ozone emission near 9.6 microns.

This volume continues presentation of the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) held at Rabat, Morocco on the 17-19th of November 2005 entitled Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere for Environmental Security. Coverage includes a review of recent and upcoming experimental satellite measurements of the Earth’s atmosphere, characterisation of pollution in urban areas and the growing lack of water in many countries of the Mediterranean area, and more.

This practical handbook provides a clearly structured, concise and comprehensive account of the huge variety of atmospheric and related measurements relevant to meteorologists and for the purpose of weather forecasting and climate research, but also to the practitioner in the wider field of environmental physics and ecology. The Springer Handbook of Atmospheric Measurements is divided into six parts: The first part offers instructive descriptions of the basics of atmospheric measurements and the multitude of their influencing factors, fundamentals of quality control and standardization, as well as equations and tables of atmospheric, water, and soil quantities. The subsequent parts present classical in-situ measurements as well as remote sensing techniques from both ground-based as well as airborn or satellite-based methods. The next part focusses on complex measurements and methods that integrate different techniques to establish more holistic data. Brief discussions of measurements in soils and water, at plants, in urban and rural environments and for renewable energies demonstrate the potential of such applications. The final part provides an overview of atmospheric and ecological networks. Written by distinguished experts from academia and industry, each of the 64 chapters provides in-depth discussions of the available devices with their specifications, aspects of quality control, maintenance as well as their potential for the future. A large number of thoroughly compiled tables of physical quantities, sensors and system characteristics make this handbook a unique, universal and useful reference for the practitioner and absolutely essential for researchers, students, and technicians.