Calculation of infrared radiance fluctuations using the Strategic High Altitude Radiance Code, SHARC, for space-based remote sensing applications

Simulation of infrared radiance fluctuations in the upper atmosphere depends on fluctuations in atmospheric species number densities, vibrational state populations, and the kinetic temperatures along the sensor line-of-sight (LOS). The model developed in this paper predicts the two-dimensional radiance covariance using linearized equations to connect atmospheric temperature fluctuations and LOS radiance fluctuations. The SHARC1 model is used to calculate mean LOS radiance values and radiance derivatives which are necessary to determine the radiance statistics. The radiance statistics are non-stationary and are explicitly bandpass and sensor FOV dependent.