Geo-fit approach to the analysis of satellite limb-scanning measurements

We propose a new approach to the analysis of limb-scanning measurements of the atmosphere that are continuously recorded from an orbiting platform. The retrieval is based on the simultaneous analysis of observations taken along the whole orbit. This approach accounts for the horizontal variability of the atmosphere hence avoiding the errors due to the assumption of horizontal homogeneity along the line of sight of the observations. A computer program that implements the proposed approach has been realized; its performance is shown with a simulated retrieval analysis based on a satellite experiment planned to fly within 2001. This program has been also used to determine the size and the character of the errors that are associated to the horizontal homogeneity assumption. A computational strategy that allows to overcome the big amount of the computer resources apparently demanded by the proposed inversion algorithm is indicated.