The HITRAN
Database




Welcome to the HITRAN homepage! The HITRAN compilation, and its analogous database HITEMP (high-temperature spectroscopic absorption parameters), are now being developed at the Atomic and Molecular Physics Division, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics under the continued direction of Dr. Laurence S. Rothman.
HITRAN is an acronym for high-resolution transmission molecular absorption database. HITRAN is a compilation of spectroscopic parameters that a variety of computer codes use to predict and simulate the transmission and emission of light in the atmosphere. The database is a long-running project started by the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) in the late 1960's in response to the need for detailed knowledge of the infrared properties of the atmosphere.
  For additional background, see Interview.

Harvard University Observatory, circa 1850

The current edition of the HITRAN molecular spectroscopic database and associated compilation (v13.0) is available on an ftp site located at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, USA. Updates and corrections to the compilation will be made available on this web-site under the sub-page HITRAN UPDATES.

In addition to the Mega-line HITRAN2008 database, there are directories containing files of aerosol indices of refraction, UV line-by-line and absorption cross-section parameters, and more extensive IR absorption cross-sections. Supplemental folders are used for line-by-line parameters in cases where more complete information may be contained in the corresponding cross-section files, and also where we have archived some cross-sections files that contain information very similar to newer data.

The HAWKS (HITRAN Atmospheric Workstation) software has been written in the Java language for improved cross-platform compatibility. This software manipulates, filters, and plots the line-by-line data as well as the absorption cross-sections, in Windows, UNIX, and MAC operating systems.

Sun Java language
 

The database can be downloaded from an internet site. The instructions for accessing the compilation may be obtained by researchers using their institutional addresses by completing the HITRAN Request Form. Special questions should be e-mailed to LRothman@CfA.Harvard.edu  Mail box

Royal Society Publishing has just published “Water in the Gas Phase”, compiled and edited by Jonathan Tennyson and Keith Shine which is FREE to access online until 31 July 2012. See http://bit.ly/zbQktZ for further details or you can go straight to the issue contents at
http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/370/1968
  The print issue is available at the special price of 47.50 British pounds. You can order online via the above web page (enter special code TA 1968 when prompted) or, alternatively, you can contact
Debbie.Vaughan@royalsociety.org

Water in the Gas Phase

A Special Issue of the Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer (JQSRT) volume 110, numbers 9-10, June/July 2009 has been published. This Special Issue includes 17 articles describing the data that relate to HITRAN.

JQSRT HITRAN Special Issue
Click here for a list of the papers from the 2009 JQSRT Special Issue ==>

Last updated: December 13, 2012 SAO    NASA Earth Observing System