ENVISAT-SCIAMACHY: instrument commissioning & early results

The Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) will be one of the atmospheric sounders on board Envisat, to be launched in early 2002. The instrument is designed to detect solar light scattered from the atmosphere in either nadir, limb or occultation geometry. Following the successful launch of Envisat and an initial outgassing phase activities will focus on instrument functional and performance verification, consolidation as well as geophysical validation of the operational data products. Activities will be conducted in a period 1...9 months after launch and involve a huge number of research teams, organised within the Envisat Atmospheric Chemistry Validation Team (ACVT).