SCIAMACHY-a hyperspectral sensor for global atmospheric studies

The Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) is a hyperspectral space-based spectrometer covering almost continuously the spectral range between 240 nm and 2380 nm. SCIAMACHY will measure both the extraterrestrial irradiance and the earthshine radiance, i.e., sunlight which is transmitted, reflected or scattered by the Earth´s atmosphere or surface. Measurements will be performed in nadir, limb, and both solar and lunar occultation geometry. Inversion of the SCIAMACHY measurements will provide the amount and distributions of a large number of atmospheric constituents in the stratosphere and troposphere (O₃, NO_2, H₂ O, CO₂, CH₄. N₂O, BrO, CO, O₂,NO, SO₂, H₂CO, OClO, and possibly ClO)