Cool Stars 14 - Submitted Abstract # 185
This version created on 05 October 2006

A Library of Whole Earth Spectra with AIRS


T. Hearty
I. Song
S. Kim
G. Tinetti

We have investigated mid-IR spectra of Earth obtained by the
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on-board the AQUA
spacecraft to explore the characteristics that may someday be observed
in extrasolar terrestrial planets.  We have used the AIRS infrared (R
~ 1200;  3.75-15.4 microns) spectra to construct directly-observed
high-resolution spectra of the only known life bearing planet, Earth.
The AIRS spectra are the first such spectra that span the seasons.  We
also used the 4 Visible/Near Infrared Channels of AIRS to investigate
the vegetation signatures that might be observed in the visible.
Additionally, we investigated the diurnal and seasonal variations as
well as spectral variations that would arise due to varying cloud
amount and viewing geometry.

----------------------------------