This paper describes the contents of the 2016 edition of the HITRAN molecular spectroscopic compilation. The new edition replaces the previous HITRAN edition of 2012 and its updates during the intervening years. The HITRAN molecular absorption compilation is composed of five major components: the traditional line-by-line spectroscopic parameters required for high-resolution radiative-transfer codes, infrared absorption cross-sections for molecules not yet amenable to representation in a line-by-line form, collision-induced absorption data, aerosol indices of refraction, and general tables such as partition sums that apply globally to the data. The new HITRAN is greatly extended in terms of accuracy, spectral coverage, additional absorption phenomena, added line-shape formalisms, and validity. Moreover, molecules, isotopologues, and perturbing gases have been added that address the issues of atmospheres beyond the Earth. Of considerable note, experimental IR cross-sections for almost 300 additional molecules important in different areas of atmospheric science have been added to the database. The compilation can be accessed through www.hitran.org. Most of the HITRAN data have now been cast into an underlying relational database structure that offers many advantages over the long-standing sequential text-based structure. The new structure empowers the user in many ways. It enables the incorporation of an extended set of fundamental parameters per transition, sophisticated line-shape formalisms, easy user-defined output formats, and very convenient searching, filtering, and plotting of data. A powerful application programming interface making use of structured query language (SQL) features for higher-level applications of HITRAN is also provided.

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The HITRAN 2008 molecular spectroscopic database

The NO2 absorption cross-section has been measured from 42 000 to 10 000 cm−1 (238–1000 nm) with a Fourier transform spectrometer (at the resolution of 2 cm−1, 0.01 nm at 240 nm to 0.2 nm at 1000 nm) and a 5 m temperature controlled multiple reflection cell. The uncertainty on the cross-section is estimated to be less than 3% below 40 000 cm−1 (λ > 250 nm) at 294 K, 3% below 30 000 cm−1 (λ > 333 nm) at 220 K, but reaches 10% for higher wavenumbers. Temperature and pressure effects have been observed. Comparison with data from the literature generally shows a good agreement for wavenumbers between 37 500 and 20 000 cm−1 (267–500 nm). Outside these limits, the difference can reach several percent.

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Measurements of the NO2 absorption cross-section from 42 000 cm−1 to 10 000 cm−1 (238–1000 nm) at 220 K and 294 K

Using the scanning imaging absorption spectrometer for atmospheric chartography (SCIAMACHY) pre-flight model satellite spectrometer, gas-phase absorption spectra of the most important atmospheric trace gases (O3, NO2, SO2, O2, OClO, H2CO, H2O, CO, CO2, CH4, and N2O) have been measured in the 230–2380 nm range at medium spectral resolution and at several temperatures between 203 and 293 K. The spectra show high signal-to-noise ratio (between 200 up to a few thousands), high baseline stability (better than 10−2) and an accurate wavelength calibration (better than 0.01 nm) and were scaled to absolute absorption cross-sections using previously published data. The results are important as reference data for atmospheric remote-sensing and physical chemistry. Amongst other results, the first measurements of the Wulf bands of O3 up to their origin above 1000 nm were made at five different temperatures between 203 and 293 K, the first UV-Vis absorption cross-sections of NO2 in gas-phase equilibrium at 203 K were recorded, and the ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of SO2 were measured at five different temperatures between 203 and 296 K. In addition, the molecular absorption spectra were used to improve the wavelength calibration of the SCIAMACHY spectrometer and to characterize the instrumental line shape (ILS) and straylight properties of the instrument. It is demonstrated that laboratory measurements of molecular trace gas absorption spectra prior to launch are important for satellite instrument characterization and to validate and improve the spectroscopic database.

Measurements of molecular absorption spectra with the SCIAMACHY pre-flight model: instrument characterization and reference data for atmospheric remote-sensing in the 230–2380 nm region

A miniaturised ultraviolet spectrometer for remote sensing of SO2 fluxes: a new tool for volcano surveillance

The updated 2009 edition of the spectroscopic database GEISA (Gestion et Etude des Informations Spectroscopiques Atmospheriques; Management and Study of Atmospheric Spectroscopic Information) is described in this paper. GEISA is a computer-accessible system comprising three independent sub-databases devoted, respectively, to: line parameters, infrared and ultraviolet/visible absorption cross-sections, microphysical and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols. In this edition, 50 molecules are involved in the line parameters sub-database, including 111 isotopologues, for a total of 3,807,997 entries, in the spectral range from 10−6 to 35,877.031 cm−1. The successful performances of the new generation of hyperspectral sounders depend ultimately on the accuracy to which the spectroscopic parameters of the optically active atmospheric gases are known, since they constitute an essential input to the forward radiative transfer models that are used to interpret their observations. Currently, GEISA is involved in activities related to the assessment of the capabilities of IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer; http://smsc.cnes.fr/IASI/index.htm) on board the METOP European satellite through the GEISA/IASI database derived from GEISA. Since the Metop-A (http://www.eumetsat.int) launch (19 October 2006), GEISA is the reference spectroscopic database for the validation of the level-1 IASI data. Also, GEISA is involved in planetary research, i.e., modeling of Titan's atmosphere, in the comparison with observations performed by Voyager, or by ground-based telescopes, and by the instruments on board the Cassini–Huygens mission. GEISA, continuously developed and maintained at LMD (Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, France) since 1976, is implemented on the IPSL/CNRS (France) “Ether” Products and Services Centre WEB site (http://ether.ipsl.jussieu.fr), where all archived spectroscopic data can be handled through general and user friendly associated management software facilities. More than 350 researchers are registered for on line use of GEISA.

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The 2009 edition of the GEISA spectroscopic database

Absorption cross sections of SO2 have been recorded at 295 K at the resolutions of 2 and 16 cm−1. The 27000- to 40000-cm−1 spectral region has been investigated. The comparison with data available from the literature shows a good agreement between the different data sets (less than 5%). However, local discrepancies, for example at the peaks of absorption, can reach 20%.

SO2 Absorption Cross-section Measurement in the UV using a Fourier Transform Spectrometer

New laboratory measurements of NO2 absorption cross-section were performed using a Fourier transform spectrometer at 2 and 16 cm-1 (0.03 and 0.26 nm at 400 nm) in the visible range (380–830 nm) and at room temperature. The use of a Fourier transform spectrometer leads to a very accurate wavenumber scale (0.005 cm-1, 8×10-5 nm at 400 nm). The uncertainty on the new measurements is better than 4%. Absolute and differential cross-sections are compared with published data, giving an agreement ranging from 2 to 5% for the absolute values. The discrepancies in the differential cross-sections can however reach 18%. The influence of the cross-sections on the ground-based measurement of the stratospheric NO2 total amount is also investigated.

/pdf/fourier-transform-measurement-of-no2-absorption-cross-38qo73jt3f.pdf

Fourier transform measurement of NO2 absorption cross-section in the visible range at room temperature

Regular ArticleRovibrational Parameters for trans-Nitrous Acid

Rovibrational Parameters for cis-Nitrous Acid

The conditions for temporal self-organization in the form of sustained oscillations are determined in a minimal cascade model previously proposed (A. Goldbeter, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 9107–9111 (1991)) for the mitotic oscillator driving the embryonic cell division cycle. The model is based on a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cascade involving cyclin and cdc2 kinase. In the first cycle of the cascade, cdc2 kinase is activated through dephosphorylation triggered by the accumulation of cyclin, while in a second cycle the activation of a cyclin protease is brought about through phosphorylation by cdc2 kinase. The fact that cyclin promotes the activation of cdc2 kinase while the latter enzyme triggers cyclin degradation introduces a negative feedback loop which is at the core of the periodic operation of the cascade. We analyze the mechanism of oscillatory behavior by constructing stability diagrams as a function of some of the main parameters of the model. Investigated in turn are the roles of negative feedback and of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation thresholds. Such thresholds arise from the phenomenon of zero-order ultrasensitivity associated with the kinetics of covalent modification cycles. An extension of the minimal model allows one to address the effect of additional phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycles and the possible role of autocatalysis by cdc2 kinase in the generation of periodic behavior. The analysis shows that the existence of thresholds as well as an increase in the number of cycles in the cascade favor the occurrence of sustained oscillations. The results further indicate that negative and positive feedback may both contribute to the repetitive activation of cdc2 kinase.

J.M. Guilmot

Papers

SO2 Absorption Cross-section Measurement in the UV using a Fourier Transform Spectrometer

Fourier transform measurement of NO2 absorption cross-section in the visible range at room temperature

Regular ArticleRovibrational Parameters for trans-Nitrous Acid

Rovibrational Parameters for cis-Nitrous Acid

The mitotic oscillator: Temporal self-organization in a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation enzymatic cascade