研究目的
To characterize the performance and sensitivity of the NOMAD spectrometer onboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter for detecting methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere under various conditions.
研究成果
The NOMAD spectrometer is capable of detecting methane in the Martian atmosphere with high sensitivity under low aerosol conditions, with potential for improved detection limits through data binning. The instrument's performance is robust across various atmospheric conditions, making it a valuable tool for studying Martian climate and trace gases.
研究不足
The sensitivity of NOMAD to methane is significantly affected by aerosol loads in the Martian atmosphere, with detection limits worsening under dusty conditions. The study also notes that the instrument's performance in nadir geometry is limited by thermal background noise due to insufficient cooling.
1:Experimental Design and Method Selection:
The study utilized in-flight data from the NOMAD instrument to characterize its performance, focusing on the infrared channels' operation through solar occultation and nadir geometries. The methodology included frequency calibration, AOTF properties quantification, and spectral continuum modeling.
2:Sample Selection and Data Sources:
Data were acquired during the First Mars Capture Orbit phase between 22nd and 27th November 2016, including calibration measurements pointing directly to the Sun in both SO and LNO configurations.
3:List of Experimental Equipment and Materials:
The NOMAD instrument, specifically its infrared channels (SO and LNO), which combine an echelle grating spectrometer with an Acousto-Optical Tunable Filter (AOTF).
4:Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow:
The calibration process involved spectral calibration, resolving power estimation, thermal effects on wavenumber calibration, AOTF tuning relation, and AOTF transfer function shape characterization. These steps were followed by sensitivity analysis for CH4 detection in solar occultation and nadir geometries.
5:Data Analysis Methods:
The analysis included radiative transfer simulations using the Planetary Spectrum Generator (PSG), noise modeling, and sensitivity calculations based on signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for CH4 detection.
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