MODTRAN2: evolution and applications

Gail P. Anderson; James H. Chetwynd Jr.; F. X. Kneizys; L. M. Kimball; Lawrence S. Bernstein; Prabhat K. Acharya; Alexander Berk; David C. Robertson; Leonard W. Abreu; Eric P. Shettle

doi:10.1117/12.177956

29 June 1994 MODTRAN2: evolution and applications

Gail P. Anderson, James H. Chetwynd Jr., F. X. Kneizys, L. M. Kimball, Lawrence S. Bernstein, Prabhat K. Acharya, Alexander Berk, David C. Robertson, Leonard W. Abreu, Eric P. Shettle

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2222, Atmospheric Propagation and Remote Sensing III; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177956
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1994, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

MODTRAN2' is the most recent version of MODTRAJP, the Moderate Resolution Atmospheric Radiance and Transmittance Model, officially released by the Geophysics Directorate, Phillips Laboratory, in early 1993. It encompasses all the capabilities of LOWTRAN 73, the historic 20 cni' resolution (full width at half maximum, FWHM) radiance code, but incorporates a much more sensitive molecular band model with 2 ciii' resolution. The band model is based directly upon the HITRAN4 spectral parameters, including both temperature and pressure (line shape) dependencies. Because the band model parameters and their applications to transmittance calculations have been independently developed using equivalent width "binning" procedures, validation against full Voigtline-by-line calculations (eg. FASCODEb) is important. Extensive spectral comparisons have shown excellent agreement. In addition, simple timing runs of MODTRAN vs. FASCOD3P (released in 1992) show an improvement of more than a factor of 100 for a typical 500 cm spectral interval and comparable vertical layering. It has been previously established that not only is MODTRAN an excellent band model for "full path" calculations (that is, radiance and/or transmittance from point A to point B), but it replicates layer-specific quantities to a very high degree of accuracy6. Such layer quantities, derived from ratios and differences of longer path MODTRAN calculations from point A to adjacent layer boundaries, can be used to provide inversion algorithm weighting functions or similarly formulated quantities. One of the most exciting new applications is the rapid calculation of reliable IR cooling rates7, including species, altitude, and spectral distinctions, as well as the standard integrated quantities. Comparisons with prior line-by-line cooling rate calculations'9 are excellent, and the techniques can be extended to incorporate global climatoIogies°.

Citation Download Citation

Gail P. Anderson, James H. Chetwynd Jr., F. X. Kneizys, L. M. Kimball, Lawrence S. Bernstein, Prabhat K. Acharya, Alexander Berk, David C. Robertson, Leonard W. Abreu, and Eric P. Shettle "MODTRAN2: evolution and applications", Proc. SPIE 2222, Atmospheric Propagation and Remote Sensing III, (29 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177956

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available