Objectives

Use of the occultation measurement principle for observing the Earth's atmosphere and climate has become so broad as to exploit solar, lunar, stellar, navigation and satellite-crosslink signals, to employ the whole electromagnetic spectrum from EUV/UV via VIS/IR to MW and radio, and to utilize all kinds of atmosphere-radiation interaction such as refraction, absorption, and scattering.

Occultation methods share the unique properties of self-calibration, high accuracy and vertical resolution, global coverage, and, if using radio signals, all-weather capability. They thus bear great utility for meteorology and climate science, and other fields. The many different uses and variants of the occultation method have led to a diversification of the occultation-related scientific community into several sub-communities, however.

OPAC-IROWG 2022 sets in at this point and aims at providing a casual forum and stimulating atmosphere fertilizing scientific discourse, co-operation initiatives, and mutual learning & support amongst members of all the different sub-communities.

Topical areas include:

• Occultation methodology (generic aspects, math-phys basis, iono. influences)
• Use of occultation data in atmospheric physics
• Use of occultation data in NWP
• Use of occultation data in climate monitoring and research
• Specific occultation methods and related techniques (LEO, stellar, solar/lunar, reflectometry)
• Occultations in ionosphere and planetary science
• Future occultation missions