Abstract
This study evaluates the performance of the recently developed
Pandora spectrometer by comparing it with the Brewer reference triad. This
triad was established by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the
1980s and is used to calibrate Brewer instruments around the world, ensuring
high-quality total column ozone (TCO) measurements. To reduce stray light,
the double Brewer instrument was introduced in 1992, and a new reference
triad of double Brewers is also operational at Toronto. Since 2013, ECCC has
deployed two Pandora spectrometers co-located with the old and new Brewer
triads, making it possible to study the performance of three generations of
ozone-monitoring instruments. The statistical analysis of TCO records from
these instruments indicates that the random uncertainty for the Brewer is
below 0.6 %, while that for the Pandora is below 0.4 %. However,
there is a 1 % seasonal difference and a 3 % bias between the
standard Pandora and Brewer TCO data, which is related to the temperature
dependence and difference in ozone cross sections. A statistical model was
developed to remove this seasonal difference and bias. It was based on daily
temperature profiles from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather
Forecasts ERA-Interim data over Toronto and TCO from the Brewer reference
triads. When the statistical model was used to correct Pandora data, the
seasonal difference was reduced to 0.25 % and the bias was reduced to
0.04 %. Pandora instruments were also found to have low air mass
dependence up to 81.6° solar zenith angle, comparable to double
Brewer instruments.
Citation
ID:
174704
Ref Key:
zhao2016atmosphericaccuracy,