Infrared spectroscopy and the terrestrial atmosphere

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is an extremely powerful technique for atmospheric remote sensing. In particular, on board a satellite and working in emission in the limb-viewing mode, it allows a global coverage during day and night. Based on this method the MIPAS experiment has been recently launched on ESAʹs Environmental satellite (ENVISAT). However, accurate retrievals require high quality spectroscopic parameters. It is the goal of this paper to show on a few selected examples the importance of using for the retrievals high quality spectral parameters derived from the best possible experimental and theoretical laboratory methods. To cite this article: J.-M. Flaud, H. Oelhaf, C. R. Physique 5 (2004).