A FAR-INFRARED PHOTOMETER FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF STRATOSPHERIC PERTURBATIONS

The sensitivity of the new generation of He-3 bolometers is such that it is possible to detect tiny atmospheric perturbations occurring at h igh altitude by means of a submillimetric photometer: an excess of 1% along one km of the stratosphere for H2O vapour is detectable up to 10 km of altitude, while the same excess for O-2, is detectable up to 20 km and up to 35 km in the case of Ozone. In the present paper we desc ribe a multi-band photometer operating at the focal plane of MITO (Mil limeter and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory), capable of discriminati ng atmospheric perturbations in altitude and in chemical composition. The instrument is devoted to the study of the dynamics of the upper at mosphere in a long range program of far infrared observations.