Support for ODIN 2025-2027

Research Project, 2024 – 2028

This proposal outlines the strategy for Chalmers University to support the Swedish National Space Agency in fulfilling its commitments to the Odin mission, with a focus on the Sub-Millimetre Radiometer (SMR).
Launched over 23 years ago, Odin is equipped with two instruments, SMR and OSIRIS, both of which have significantly contributed to advances in atmospheric sciences. The Chalmers Odin team is responsible for processing, documenting, and disseminating SMR data to both national and international scientific communities. The key activities are organized into three main work packages: (WP1) the operation of satellite data until the end-of-life (EOL) phase, (WP2) final data archiving and review, and (WP3) enhancements in the quality, homogeneity, and scope of Level 2 (L2) data.

In WP1, the goal is to continue producing L2 products from Odin-SMR measurements for as long as the data remains valid during  2025-2027.  This process involves downloading Level 0 (L0) data, and then preparing, calibrating, and generating L2 products using an atmospheric spectroscopy database and the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer System (ARTS). A significant emphasis is placed on reducing cloud service costs by optimizing for on-demand usage. This includes scientific support and maintenance and migrating data services to more cost-effective cloud solutions. This will only be pursued if the instruments remain operational and will therefore be terminated 1 month after the satellites end of life. 

WP2 aims to make Odin data accessible to the scientific community at minimal cost and to ensure its long-term preservation. Activities include investigating open data service options, adapting and migrating the dataset, decommissioning production systems post-EOL, and securing long-term storage. A summary paper that reviews all Odin-related research is also planned, serving as a comprehensive one-stop resource for earth science data.

WP3 suggests a separate initiative to maximize the usability of the long Odin data series by improving L2 data quality, homogeneity, and scope. This package targets resolving outstanding issues with SMR L2 data, version 3, released in 2020. The focus is on enhancing data quality from the L1b to L2 processing stages, expanding the list of retrieval species, and developing methods to extract averaged data from weak spectral signatures. Specific tasks include assessing the stability of L1b antenna temperatures, addressing biases and instrumental instabilities affecting certain data types, and reprocessing the entire dataset with improvements. Priority within this work package will be given to assessing L1b stability, as it impacts most of the data products from the earth mission. This is followed by efforts to resolve issues with ClO and HNO3 data, and lastly, improving the retrieval of weak spectral signatures.