Water vapor absorption between 5690 and 8340 cm−1: Accurate empirical line centers and validation tests of calculated line intensities

An accurate empirical list of 57,995 transitions is constructed for natural water in the 5690–8340 cm−1 near infrared region (1.76–1.20 µm). The new list represents an updated version of the list reported in Mikhailenko et al. (2016). The spectral range is extended to lower energy and the transition frequencies benefited from a series of recent measurements by comb-assisted cavity ring down spectroscopy (CA-CRDS). The line list construction uses as starting point the variational line lists computed on the basis of the results of Schwenke and Partridge for the six most abundant water isotopologues (H2 16O, H2 18O, H2 17O, HD16O, HD18O, HD17O). Variational line positions are replaced by position values calculated from empirical rotation-vibration energy levels. The set of required empirical energy levels is improved in accuracy and enlarged, in particular for the minor isotopologues. A large number of energy levels and thus transition frequencies, relying on spectra recorded by CA-CRDS, have accuracy on the order of 10−4 cm−1. All the transitions are provided with unique vibrational labeling supported by effective Hamiltonian calculations in case of ambiguity. A detailed comparison is presented with the list of natural water included in the HITRAN2016 database and with the very recent H2 16O and H2 18O lists reported in Conway et al. (2020). The advantage of our list in terms of line position accuracy is demonstrated and illustrated by direct comparison with CRDS recordings at disposal. Intensity comparison shows a general agreement but a number of weaknesses of the most recent intensity calculations are evidenced. All the considered theoretical line lists include a few bands (e.g. 4ν2, 5ν2, ν1+2ν2 and ν1+3ν2) with intensities deviating significantly from the observations. © 2020 Elsevier LtdE.K. Conway (Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge and University College London) is acknowledged for providing us the submitted version of Ref. [44] together with the corresponding H216O and H218O lists, prior publication. The support of the University Grenoble Alpes and CNRS (France) in the frame of International Research Project SAMIA is acknowledged. SNM activity was also partly supported in the frame of the Russian Science Foundation, grant no. 18-11-00024