On-Orbit Wavelength Calibration Error Analysis of the Spaceborne Hyperspectral Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Instrument Using the Solar Fraunhofer Lines

Abstract

Accurate on-orbit wavelength calibration of the spaceborne hyperspectral payload is the key to the quantitative analysis and application of observational data. Due to the high spectral resolution of general spaceborne hyperspectral greenhouse gas (GHG) detection instruments, the common Fraunhofer lines in the solar atmosphere can be used as a reference for on-orbit wavelength calibration. Based on the performances of a GHG detection instrument under development, this study simulated the instrument’s solar-viewing measurement spectra and analyzed the main sources of errors in the on-orbit wavelength calibration method of the instrument using the solar Fraunhofer lines, including the Doppler shift correction error, the instrumental measurement error, and the peak-seek algorithm error. The calibration accuracy was independently calculated for 65 Fraunhofer lines within the spectral range of the instrument. The results show that the wavelength calibration accuracy is mainly affected by the asymmetry of the Fraunhofer lines and the random error associated with instrument measurement, and it can cause calibration errors of more than 1/10 of the spectral resolution at maximum. A total of 49 Fraunhofer lines that meet the requirements for calibration accuracy were screened based on the design parameters of the instrument. Due to the uncertainty of simulation, the results in this study have inherent limitations, but provide valuable insights for quantitatively analyzing the errors of the on-orbit wavelength calibration method using the Fraunhofer lines, evaluating the influence of instrumental parameters on the calibration accuracy, and enhancing the accuracy of on-orbit wavelength calibration for similar GHG detection payloads.