Remedy 1: Improved understanding of the effects of differences in ozone cross-sections

Primary gap remedy type: 
Research
Secondary gap remedy type: 
Technical
Proposed remedy description: 

It is necessary to study in-depth what impact the differences in the ozone cross-sections recommended for Dobson and Brewer instruments and the ones used for satellite retrievals have on the retrieved ozone amount when applied within the DOAS data analysis technique. This would be best achieved via a simulation study using the operational Pandora retrieval algorithm with alternative cross-sections of ozone but should also be added to the list of follow-up studies for the CINDI-2 intercomparison exercise. However, preliminary information should also be obtained from a literature study in consultation with the Brewer and Dobson communities and some original quantitative analyses. The analysis may be expected to lead to recommendations for future processing of measurements to be taken up by those networks operating these instruments. The analysis may also require additional dedicated measurements at a small number of sites to support the characterisation.

Relevance: 

Starting from the results achieved within the ACSO study, the study proposed here will help to understand the uncertainties caused by different sets of ozone cross-sections used within the data analysis and how this impacts on the overall measurement uncertainty.

Measurable outcome of success: 

If the difference in the end product (total column ozone) is quantifiable with regard to which of the different ozone cross-sections have been used within the retrieval, then this can be applied to better compare the ozone data measured by satellites with ground-based data sets while both satellite and ground-based observations still use their preferred ozone cross-sections for the data analysis.

Expected viability for the outcome of success: 
  • Medium
Scale of work: 
  • Single institution
  • Consortium
Time bound to remedy: 
  • Less than 3 years
Indicative cost estimate (investment): 
  • Low cost (< 1 million)
Indicative cost estimate (exploitation): 
  • No
Potential actors: 
  • EU H2020 funding
  • Copernicus funding
  • ESA, EUMETSAT or other space agency
  • Academia, individual research institutes