FIELD: physics.
SUBSTANCE: method involves: measuring, in the scattered solar radiation received from a horizontal direction and analysed by a spectrometer, the value of the difference absorption spectrum of the unknown gas and the value of the difference absorption spectrum of a known gas, located nearby on wavelength, whose concentration in the investigated part of the atmosphere is known in advance or is measured using an independent method. The method is characterised by that, in order to increase measurement accuracy, in the scattered solar radiation, received from the investigated part of the atmosphere, the ratio of the value of the difference absorption spectrum of the unknown gas to the value of the difference absorption spectrum of the known gas is calculated. That ratio is multiplied by the radio of the differential absorption cross-section of the known gas to the value of the differential absorption of the unknown gas, and the obtained product is multiplied by the concentration of the known gas on the investigated part of the atmosphere, and the result of these calculations is taken as a value equal to the average concentration of molecules of the unknown gas on the investigated horizontal part of the atmosphere in the direction of the received scattered solar radiation.
EFFECT: use of the present method increases measurement accuracy.
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