Global atmospheric monitoring with SCIAMACHY

SCIAMACHY (SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartog raphY) is a space based spectrometer designed to measure sunlight transmitt ed, reflected and scattered by the Earth atmosphere or surface. It is a con tribution to the Envisat-1 satellite to be launched in late 1999. SCIAMACHY measurements will provide amounts and distribution of O-3, BrO, O ClO, ClO, SO2, H2CO, NO2, CO, CO2, CH4, H2O, N2O, pressure, temperature, ae rosol, radiation, cloud cover and cloud top height from atmospheric measure ments in nadir, limb and occultation geometry. By the combination of the near simultaneous limb and nadir observations SCI AMACHY is one of a limited number of instruments which is able to detect tr opospheric column amounts of O-3, NO2, CO, CH4, H2O, N2O, SO2, H2CO, and Br O down to the planetary boundary layer under cloud free conditions. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.