Retrieval of physical parameters from measurements

• Published in: Exploration of the Solar System by Infrared Remote Sensing pp. 352 - 404
• Main Authors: Hanel, R. A., Conrath, B. J., Jennings, D. E., Samuelson, R. E.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom Cambridge University Press 06.03.2003
• Subjects: Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods; Solar system
• ISBN: 9780521818971; 0521818974
• DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511536106.010

In Chapter 6 we examined planetary spectra using the knowledge that we gained in previous chapters, especially in Chapter 4, which was devoted to simple atmospheric models of radiative processes. By applying physical reasoning, we could extract a considerable amount of information on the conditions that gave rise to the measured spectra. This intuitive method is very important in analyzing data; however, if one desires more precise information in the form of numerical results, the strictly intuitive approach must be augmented by more sophisticated numerical methods. Such methods are the subject of this chapter.In Section 8.1 we introduce numerical retrieval methods and apply them to atmospheric parameters in general. Section 8.2 is devoted to the retrieval of atmospheric temperature profiles. A large number of different numerical techniques is now available for this task. The retrieval of information on atmospheric composition is the subject of Section 8.3. Again, a wide range of methods must be considered. Cloud parameters and the properties of suspended particulates can also be deduced from infrared measurements. This topic is treated in Section 8.4. The determination of properties of solid surfaces is discussed in Section 8.5, while processes of finding the albedo and the total thermal emission of the Solar System objects are analyzed in Section 8.6.