Fig. 1. Geometry of laser occultation limb sounding

Fig. 2. Absorption and transmittance spectra. (a)Absorption spectrum of water vapor in the NIR region near 935 nm(Selected detection wavelength is not sensitive to temperature); (b) atmospheric transmittance spectrum from a 13 km altitude showing the oxygen A-band absorption line at 764.7 nm using a standard US atmosphere(Selected detection wavelength is not sensitive to temperature)

Fig. 3. Flow chart for retrieval atmospheric temperature and pressure from 0.765 μm laser occultation

Fig. 4. Flow chart for water vapor retrieval concentration from 935nm laser occultation

Fig. 5. Simulated laser occultation crosslink water vapor retrieval error

Fig. 6. Simulated laser occultation crosslink temperature retrieval error

Fig. 7. Water vapor profiles: model and retrieved results

Fig. 8. Temperature profiles: model and retrieved results