ARTS (Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator) is a widely used
atmospheric
radiative transfer simulator for infrared, microwave, and sub-millimeter
wavelengths.
While the model is developed by a community, core development is done by the
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg (german: link=no, Universität Hamburg, also referred to as UHH) is a public research university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by combining the previous General Lecture System ('' Allgemeines Vor ...
and
Chalmers University
Chalmers University of Technology ( sv, Chalmers tekniska högskola, often shortened to Chalmers) is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international leve ...
, with previous participation from
Luleå University of Technology
Luleå University of Technology is a Public Research University in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The university has four campuses located in the Arctic Region in the cities of Luleå, Kiruna, Skellefteå, and Piteå.
With more than 19,000 students a ...
and
University of Bremen.
Whereas most radiative transfer models are developed for a specific instrument, ARTS is one of few models that aims to be generically applicable.
It is designed from basic physical principles and has been used in a wide range of situations. It supports fully polarised radiative transfer calculations in clear-sky or cloudy conditions in 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D geometries,
including the calculations of Jacobians.
Cloudy simulations support liquid and ice clouds with particles of varying sizes and shapes
and supports multiple-scattering simulations.
Absorption is calculated line-by-line, with continua
or using a lookup table.
The user programs ARTS by the means of a simple scripting language.
ARTS is a physics-based model and therefore much slower than many radiative transfer models that are used operationally and is currently unable to simulate solar, visible, or shortwave radiation.
ARTS has been used at the
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the