H2O retrievals from Jungfraujoch infrared spectra: some spectroscopic problems.

Since 1949, solar absorption spectra have been acquired at the Jungfraujoch observatory (Swiss Alps, 46.5°N, 8.0°E, 3580 m a.s.l.), first with grating spectrometers, then with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers.
Most observations collected with these instruments encompass water vapor absorptions, even the narrow spectral domains regularly recorded with the grating instruments to monitor the evolution of important atmospheric constituents. The aim of this work is to analyze all available spectra containing usable H2O absorption lines, to derive a long-term record of its total column in the atmosphere above the Jungfraujoch.
In addition, more recent FTIR broadband spectra, with better signal-to-noise ratio and resolution, will be analyzed with state of the art algorithm, in order to derive information on the vertical distribution of H2O.