Ground-based remote sensing of atmospheric carbon dioxide with Fourier transform spectrometry

Within the PhD thesis calibrated observatories for ground-based solar absorption measurements using Fourier transform spectrometers have been established at Bialystok (Poland) and Orléans (France). These two sites are among the most important in-situ sites for greenhouse gas observations in Europe. The on-site combination of vertically resolved in-situ measurements (tall towers and regular aircraft profiling) and remote sensing measurements (FTS) is unique in Europe and vital for the integration of spaceborne and ground-based remote sensing measurements into the European observing system for greenhouse gases. The PhD work included significant involvement in the construction and automation of the two mobile FTS systems, a side by side comparison of two ground-based FTS instruments, the calibration of European FTS sites against in-situ calibration standards, and the initial comparison of the Bialystok FTS dataset with collocated in-situ measurements as well as model simulations.