gov.noaa.ncdc:C00683 eng; USA utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact 2025-07-15T21:22:08 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset 2020 publication International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) Geomatics Committee custodian EPSG:4326 NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) Radiometer Data National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) Radiometer Data 1978-11-05 publication 1978 creation 1978 revision gov.noaa.class:AVHRR gov.noaa.ncdc:C00683 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information publisher DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 301-817-4435 301-457-5184 NOAA NESDIS OSPO E/SP, RM 1069, FB4 5200 Auth Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Operations/POES/index.html Information Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) This site provides information on each spacecraft and their various subsystems. information 9-5, EST Phone/E-mail/letter during regular business hours originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 301-817-4435 301-457-5184 NOAA NESDIS OSPO E/SP, RM 1069, FB4 5200 Auth Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Operations/POES/index.html Information Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) This site provides information on each spacecraft and their various subsystems. information 9-5, EST Phone/E-mail/letter during regular business hours author DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce User Engagement and Services Branch +1 828-271-4800 +1 828-271-4876 Federal Building, Room 468 151 Patton Avenue Asheville NC 28801-5001 USA ncei.orders@noaa.gov 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern publisher imageDigital The Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) series offers the advantage of daily global coverage, by making nearly polar orbits 14 times per day approximately 520 miles above the surface of the Earth. The Earth's rotation allows the satellite to see a different view with each orbit, and each satellite provides two complete views of a location around the world each day. The POES constellation of weather satellites is a joint effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is a cross-track scanning system with five spectral bands having a resolution of 1.1 km and a frequency of earth scans twice per day (usually 0230 and 1430 local solar time) on NOAA and EUMETSAT satellites. There are three data types produced from the NOAA POES AVHRR. The Global Area Coverage (GAC) data set is reduced resolution image data that is processed onboard the satellite taking only one line out of every three and averaging every four of five adjacent samples along the scan line; the Local Area Coverage (LAC) data set is recorded onboard at original resolution (1.1 km) for part of an orbit and later transmitted to earth; and the High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) is real-time downlink data. The EUMETSAT MetOp satellite series, initially launched on October 19, 2006, produces the same three data types as well as a fourth data type, Global Full Resolution Area Coverage (FRAC 1.1 km). The MetOp polar orbiting operational meteorological satellite system is the European contribution to the Initial Joint Polar-Orbiting Operational Satellite System (IJPS). AVHRR data provide opportunities for studying and monitoring vegetation conditions in ecosystems including forests, tundra and grasslands. Applications include agricultural assessment, land cover mapping, producing image maps of large areas such as countries or continents, and tracking regional and continental snow cover. AVHRR data are also used to retrieve various geophysical parameters such as sea surface temperatures and energy budget data. The objective of the AVHRR instrument is to provide radiance data for investigation of clouds, land-water boundaries, snow and ice extent, ice or snow melt inception, day and night cloud distribution, temperatures of radiating surfaces, and sea surface temperature, through passively measured visible, near infrared and thermal infrared spectral radiation bands. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Customer Engagement Branch 1-828-271-4800 1-828-271-4876 151 Patton Avenue Veach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468 Asheville NC 28801-5001 USA ncei.orders@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov HTTPS Web Browser NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information. information 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern pointOfContact continual https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/C00683_AVHRR.jpg AVHRR Visible imagery over the southeastern US. JPEG Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperatures Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Imagery Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Infrared Radiances Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths > Visible Imagery Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Reflectance Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Radiative Properties > Reflectance theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher NGDAID32 NGDA National Geospatial Data Asset Climate And Weather Theme theme NGDA Portfolio Themes Geographic Region > Global place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer AVHRR-2 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer-2 AVHRR-3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer-3 instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher FRAC-G1B METOP_FRAC_Level_1b_NSS.FRAC (M1 and M3) project gov.noaa.class:AVHRR product otherRestrictions Users should cite this dataset when used as a source. otherRestrictions Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 3.0, AVHRR Level 1b Data Base 1998-11 publication Revision Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed. and comp.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/satellite/publications/podguides/N-15%20thru%20N-19/pdf/ HTTPS browser NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 3.0, AVHRR Level 1b Data Base Describes level 1b AVHRR database. information distributor crossReference userGuide NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 8.3.1.3, LAC and HRPT Data Sets (AVHRR) 2000-09 publication Revision Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pod-guide/ncdc/docs/klm/html/c8/sec831-3.htm HTTPS Documentation NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 8.3.1.3, LAC and HRPT Data Sets (AVHRR) Describes the characteristics and format of Local Area Coverage (LAC) and High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) data sets for AVHRR instrument aboard NOAA KLM and NOAA-N satellites. distributor crossReference userGuide NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 8.3.1.4, GAC Data Sets (AVHRR) 2000-09 publication Revision Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/satellite/publications/podguides/N-15%20thru%20N-19/pdf/2.5%20Section%208.0%20NOAA%20Level%201B%20Database.pdf HTTPS Documentation NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 8.3.1.4, GAC Data Sets (AVHRR) Describes the characteristics and formats of AVHRR Global Area Coverage (GAC) data sets for NOAA KLM and NOAA-N satellites. distributor crossReference userGuide NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 7.1, AVHRR 2000-09 publication Revision Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/satellite/publications/podguides/N-15%20thru%20N-19/pdf/2.4%20Section%207.0%20Calibration%20of%20NOAA%20KLM%20Instruments.pdf HTTPS browser NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 7.1, AVHRR Describes AVHRR/3 instrument calibration. information distributor crossReference userGuide Calibration of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer 1985 publication Brown, O.W. originator Brown. J.W. originator Evans, R.H. originator American Geophysical Union publisher crossReference sciencePaper eng utf8 climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere gov.noaa.ncdc:C00683 1 -180 180 -90 90 NASA/GCMD Location Keywords 2009-01-01 revision Geographic Region > Global 1978-11-05 Data types: Global Area Coverage (GAC) Local Area Coverage (LAC 1.1km) High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) Full Resolution Area Coverage (FRAC 1.1 km) 1 Real .68 .58 2 Real 1.10 .725 3a Real 1.64 1.58 3b Real 3.93 3.55 4 Real 11.30 10.30 5 Real 12.50 11.50 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information distributor In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. XML NOAA Level 1B NOAA Level 1B formatting has evolved as follows: * Original 1B format: Used until September 8, 1992. * Version 1: Used between September 8, 1992 and November 15, 1994. * Version 2: Used on all NOAA KLM (NOAA-15, 16 and 17) data until April 28, 2005. * Version 3: Level 1b format for data processed from the NOAA-15, 16 and 17 instruments beginning in early 2005.For more detailed information go to: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pod-guide/ncdc/docs/intro.htm. 1B format is raw data in 10 bit precision that has been quality controlled, assembled into discrete data sets, and to which Earth location and calibration information has been appended, but not applied. File name format is - Processing-Center.Data-Type.Spacecraft-Unique-ID.Year-Day.Start-Time.Stop-Time.Processing-Block-ID.Source (e.g. NSS.GHRR.NM.D06233.S2314.E0109.B2161415.WI). For details go to Help pages at http://www.class.noaa.gov. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/metadata/geoportal/rest/metadata/item/gov.noaa.ncdc:C00683/html HTTPS Landing Page NCEI Dataset Landing Page Landing page for the dataset. information http://www.class.noaa.gov/saa/products/search?datatype_family=AVHRR Data Search Application NOAA CLASS: Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer User interface to search and order datasets. Map Services are not available for this dataset. search FGDC Attribute Accuracy Report Quality parameters and indicators: * Quality Indicator Bit Field: Quality Indicator Bit Field per scan line for GAC, HRPT, and LAC data. * Scan Line Quality Flags: Includes Time Problem Code, Calibration Problem Code, and Earth Location Problem Code for all data types per scan line. * Calibration Quality Flags: Indicates calibration quality for all data types per scan line. * Count of Bit Errors in Frame Sync: Count of Bit Errors in Frame Telemetry Sync for all data types per scan line. FGDC Logical Consistency Report http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pod-guide/ncdc/docs/podug/html/k/app-k.htm and http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pod-guide/ncdc/docs/podug/html/l/app-l.htm FGDC Completeness Report For temporal coverage go to: http://www.class.noaa.gov/release/data_available/avhrr/index.htm#5. FGDC Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report The Earth location data in the AVHRR and TOVS Level 1b data may have been slightly inaccurate due to errors in the TIROS Information Processor (TIP) clock onboard the spacecraft. The 6-byte time code in the Level 1b data is taken from the TIP clock which routinely contained errors of 1.5 to 2.3 seconds. The on-board clock inaccuracies were resolved in mid 2002 with the launch of NOAA-17.At nadir, (the subsatellite point; straight below the satellite), positional accuracy tolerance in the 1b files is 20 km. FGDC Vertical Positional Accuracy Report dataset gov.noaa.class:AVHRR At NOAA, Polar Data Preprocessing (PDP) Processors ingest POES and METOP raw satellite Level 1A data sets and generate 1B data types. The instrument data is calibrated and Earth location data is applied. Emily Harrod DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD/IPD > Information Processing Division, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Product Area Leader for Pre-Product Processing 301-817-3882 301-817-3902 NSOF E/SP11 4231 Suitland Road Suitland Maryland 20746-4304 Emily.Harrod@noaa.gov 7:00 am to 4:30 pm EST 24/7 contact available at ESPC operations at 301-817-3880 or ESPCoperations@noaa.gov. processor Telemetry data that have been extracted but not decommutated from Level 0 and formatted into time-sequenced data sets for easier processing. The Level 1a formats are NOAA's internal formats and are only used for NOAA processing. They only exist briefly for the purpose of creating the Level 1b datasets. AVHRR Level 1A data 1978 publication DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 301-713-3578 301-713-1249 1335 East-West Highway, SSMC1, 8th Floor Silver Spring MD 20910 USA originator 1978 Raw satellite data from Metop with basic validation checks. Instrument telemetry and other auxiliary data is validated and included, also. AVHRR - Level 1 from METOP 2007-05-21 publication EUMETSAT > European Meteorological Satellite Organisation +49(0)6151-807 7 +49(0)6151-807 555 EUMETSAT Eumetsat Allee 1 Darmstadt N/A D-64295 Germany For information, go to: http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/AboutEUMETSAT/Contact_Us/index.htm?l=en originator 2007-05-21 Discrete, instrument-specific level 1b AVHRR data sets containing unprocessed data at full resolution, time-referenced and annotated with ancillary information including data quality indicators, calibration coefficients and georeferencing parameters. Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer 1978-11-05 publication DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD > Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 301-817-4435 301-457-5184 NOAA NESDIS OSDPD E/SP, RM 1069, FB4 5200 Auth Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA nesdis.osdpd.web.admins@noaa.gov 9-5, EST Phone/E-mail/letter during regular business hours originator 1978 dataset 1978-10-13 POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites Mission Start 1978-10-13T00:00:00 Mission Completion TIROS-N launched. Instruments: AVHRR and TOVS. 1978-10-13T00:00:00 TIROS-N began operations 1978-10-19T00:00:00 TIROS-N ended operations 1980-01-30T00:00:00 NOAA-6 launched. 1979-06-27T00:00:00 NOAA-6 ended operations 1986-11-16T00:00:00 NOAA-7 launched 1981-06-23T00:00:00 NOAA 7 began operations 1981-08-19T00:00:00 NOAA-7 ended operations 1986-06-07T00:00:00 NOAA-8 (NOAA-E) launched. 1983-03-28T00:00:00 NOAA-8 began operations 1983-06-20T00:00:00 NOAA-8 ended operations 1985-10-31T00:00:00 NOAA-9 (NOAA-F) launched. 1984-12-12T00:00:00 NOAA-9 began operations 1985-02-25T00:00:00 NOAA-9 ended operations 1988-11-07T00:00:00 NOAA-10 (NOAA-G) launched. 1986-09-17T00:00:00 NOAA-10 began operations 1986-11-17T00:00:00 NOAA-10 ended operations 1991-09-16T00:00:00 NOAA-11 (NOAA-H) launched. 1988-09-24T00:00:00 NOAA-11 began operations 1988-11-08T00:00:00 NOAA-11 ended operations 1995-04-11T00:00:00 NOAA-12 (NOAA-D) launched and began operations. Instruments: AVHRR/2, DCS/2, HIRS/2, MSU, SEM (POES)/2. 1991-05-14T00:00:00 NOAA-12 ended operations. 1998-12-14T00:00:00 NOAA-12 decommissioned. 2007-08-10T00:00:00 NOAA-13 (NOAA-I) launched and began operations. 1993-08-09T00:00:00 NOAA-13 ended operations. 1993-08-21T00:00:00 NOAA-14 (NOAA-J) launched. Instruments: AVHRR/2, DCS/2, HIRS/2, MSU, SARSAT, SBUV/2, SEM/1 and SSU. 1994-12-30T00:00:00 NOAA-14 began operations. 1995-04-11T00:00:00 NOAA-14 decommissioned. 2007-05-23T00:00:00 NOAA-15 (NOAA-K) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B, AVHRR/3, DCS/2, HIRS/3, SARSAT and SEM/2. 1998-05-13T00:00:00 NOAA-15 began operations. 1998-12-15T00:00:00 NOAA-16 (NOAA-L) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B, AVHRR/3, HIRS/3, SARSAT, SBUV/2 and SEM/2. 2000-09-21T00:00:00 NOAA-16 began operations. 2001-03-20T00:00:00 NOAA-17 (NOAA-M) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B, AVHRR/3, DCS/2, HIRS/3, SARSAT, SBUV/2 and SEM/2. 2002-06-24T00:00:00 NOAA-17 began operations. 2002-10-15T00:00:00 NOAA-18 (NOAA-N) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AVHRR/3, DCS/2, HIRS/4, MHS, SARSAT, SBUV/2 and SEM/2. 2005-05-20T00:00:00 NOAA-18 began operations. 2005-08-30T00:00:00 METOP-A launched. Instruments: A-DCS, AMSU-A, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, HIRS/4, IASI, MHS, SARP-3, SARR and SEM-2. 2006-10-19T00:00:00 METOP-A operational. 2007-05-21T00:00:00 NOAA-19 (NOAA-N Prime) launched. Instruments: A-DCS, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AVHRR/3, DDR, HIRS/4, MHS, SAR, SBUV/2, SEM-2 2009-02-06T00:00:00 NOAA-19 operational 2009-06-02T00:00:00 repository NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015. 2015-04-22T00:00:00 asNeeded Bulk metadata change applied on 2023-06-23. See version control repository history for metadata change details. AVHRR/3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: AVHRR/2 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/2 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: The polar orbiting satellites are able to collect global data on a daily basis for a variety of land, ocean and atmospheric applications. Data from the POES series supports a broad range of environmental monitoring applications including weather analysis and forecasting, climate research and prediction, global sea surface temperature measurements, atmospheric soundings of temperature and humidity, ocean dynamics research, volcanic eruption monitoring, forest fire detection, global vegetation analysis, search and rescue, and many other applications. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords 2007-04 revision Version 6.0.0.0.0 2007-04 NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/Resources/valids/archives/keyword_list.html web browser GCMD Keywords, Version 6.0.0.0.0 Thesuarus for earth science keywords and associated directories hosted and maintained by NASA. information resourceProvider POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites onGoing real NOAA-16 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-16 NOAA-16 (L) - Launched: September 21, 2000. Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/3, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B), SBUV/2, SEM/2, SARSAT (SARR, SARP/2) and DCS/2. Operational Dates: March 20, 2001 to Present. Operational Status: PM Secondary. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.2.1, HIRS/3 2000-09 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25123 Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Kathy (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/3 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/3 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: TBD AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A sounder and profiler Instrument Type: sounder and profiler, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: stepped-line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-A is a 15-channel cross-track, stepped-line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 3.3 degrees at the half-power points providing a nominal spatial resolution at nadir of 48 km (29.8 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.3 degrees (-48.3 degrees) from nadir with a total of 30 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8 seconds. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.4, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) 2000-09 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25182 Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Kathy B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher AMSU-B > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit B sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-B is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.1 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 16 km (9.94 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.95 degrees (-48.95 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds. SBUV/2 > Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet Radiometer/2 imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer) Instrument Type: imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer), Operational Mode: Discrete mode, sweep mode or diffuser plate mode., Collection Type: nonspatial scanning, Other Information: The SBUV/2 is a nadir pointing nonspatial scanning instrument sensitive to radiation in the 160 nm to 400 nm ultraviolet spectrum. The SBUV/2 instruments on the TIROS-N satellites are designed to measure the total ozone in a vertical column beneath the satellite and its distribution with height in the atmosphere. The SBUV/2 contains a scanning double monochromator and a cloud cover radiometer (CCR) designed to measure ultraviolet (UV) spectral intensities. In its primary mode of operation, the monochromator measures solar radiation backscatter by the atmosphere in 12 discrete wavelength bands in the near-UV, ranging from 252.0 to 339.8 nm, each with a bandpass of 1.1 nm. The total-ozone algorithm uses the four longest wavelength bands (312.5, 317.5, 331.1, and 339.8 nm), whereas the profiling algorithm uses the shorter wavelengths. The cloud cover radiometer operates at 379 nm (i.e. outside the ozone absorption band) with a 3.0-nm bandpass and was designed to measure the reflectivity of the surface in the instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The SBUV/2 also makes periodic measurements of the solar flux by deploying a diffuser plate into the field of view (FOV) to reflect sunlight into the instrument. The monochromator and the cloud cover radiometer are mounted so that they look in the nadir direction with coincident nominal FOV's of 11.3 by 11.3 degrees. As the satellite moves in a Sun-synchronous orbit, the FOV traces 160-km wide paths on the ground. The earth rotates approximately 26 degrees during each orbit. The satellite footprint moves at a speed of about 6 km/sec. In discrete mode a set of 12 measurements, 1 for each discrete wavelength band, is taken every 32 seconds. The order of measurements is 252.0 to 339.8 and the integration time is 1.25 seconds per measurement. For each monochromator measurement there is a cloud cover radiometer measurement. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) 2000-09 publication Revision NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher SEM-2 > Space Environment Monitor-2 Particle sensor, magnetometer, and X-Ray sensor The EPS accurately measures the number of particles over a broad energy range, including protons, electrons, and alpha particles. The magnetometer sensors can operate independently and simultaneously to measure the magnitude and direction of the Earth's geomagnetic field, detect variations in the magnetic field near the spacecraft, provide alerts of solar wind shocks or sudden impulses that impact the magnetosphere, and assess the level of geomagnetic activity. The second magnetometer sensor serves as a backup. The XRS is an x-ray telescope that observes and measures solar x-ray emissions in two ranges: one from 0.05 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) and the second from 0.1 to 0.8 nm. In real-time, it measures the intensity and duration of solar flares NOAA-8 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-8 NOAA-8 (E)- Launched: March 1983. Instruments: AVHRR, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), SEM and SARSAT (SARR, SARP). Operational dates: June 20, 1983-June 12, 1984 and July 1, 1985-October 31, 1985. The first operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (166" long by 74" high) and powered by a 191" by 94" solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2000 pounds. It was placed in a near circular, (450nm) polar orbit. Also included a Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. NOAA-19 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-19 NOAA-19 (N Prime) - Launch: February 6, 2009. Instruments: A-DCS, AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/4, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, MHS), SBUV/2, SARSAT (SARR, SARP/3) SEM/2. Operational Dates: June 2, 2009 to Present. Operational Status: PM Primary. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor IJPS > Initial Joint Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System sponsor AVHRR/3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: HIRS/4 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/4 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The HIRS/4 instrument provides multispectral data from one visible channel (0.69 m), seven shortwave channels (3.7 to 4.6 m) and twelve longwave channels (6.7 to 15 m) using a single telescope and a rotating filter wheel containing twenty individual spectral filters. An elliptical scan mirror provides cross-track scanning of 56 steps in increments of 1.8 degrees. The mirror steps rapidly (<35 msec), then holds at each position while the optical radiation , passing through the 20 spectral filters, is sampled. This action takes place each 0.1 second. The instantaneous field of view for each channel is approximately 0.7 degrees which, from a spacecraft altitude of 833 km, encompasses a circular area of 10 km at nadir on the earth. AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A sounder and profiler Instrument Type: sounder and profiler, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: stepped-line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-A is a 15-channel cross-track, stepped-line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 3.3 degrees at the half-power points providing a nominal spatial resolution at nadir of 48 km (29.8 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.3 degrees (-48.3 degrees) from nadir with a total of 30 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8 seconds. MHS > Microwave Humidity Sounder sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous line scanning, Other Information: MHS is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.11 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 17 km (10.56 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +50 degrees (-50 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds. SBUV/2 > Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet Radiometer/2 imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer) Instrument Type: imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer), Operational Mode: Discrete mode, sweep mode or diffuser plate mode., Collection Type: nonspatial scanning, Other Information: The SBUV/2 is a nadir pointing nonspatial scanning instrument sensitive to radiation in the 160 nm to 400 nm ultraviolet spectrum. The SBUV/2 instruments on the TIROS-N satellites are designed to measure the total ozone in a vertical column beneath the satellite and its distribution with height in the atmosphere. The SBUV/2 contains a scanning double monochromator and a cloud cover radiometer (CCR) designed to measure ultraviolet (UV) spectral intensities. In its primary mode of operation, the monochromator measures solar radiation backscatter by the atmosphere in 12 discrete wavelength bands in the near-UV, ranging from 252.0 to 339.8 nm, each with a bandpass of 1.1 nm. The total-ozone algorithm uses the four longest wavelength bands (312.5, 317.5, 331.1, and 339.8 nm), whereas the profiling algorithm uses the shorter wavelengths. The cloud cover radiometer operates at 379 nm (i.e. outside the ozone absorption band) with a 3.0-nm bandpass and was designed to measure the reflectivity of the surface in the instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The SBUV/2 also makes periodic measurements of the solar flux by deploying a diffuser plate into the field of view (FOV) to reflect sunlight into the instrument. The monochromator and the cloud cover radiometer are mounted so that they look in the nadir direction with coincident nominal FOV's of 11.3 by 11.3 degrees. As the satellite moves in a Sun-synchronous orbit, the FOV traces 160-km wide paths on the ground. The earth rotates approximately 26 degrees during each orbit. The satellite footprint moves at a speed of about 6 km/sec. In discrete mode a set of 12 measurements, 1 for each discrete wavelength band, is taken every 32 seconds. The order of measurements is 252.0 to 339.8 and the integration time is 1.25 seconds per measurement. For each monochromator measurement there is a cloud cover radiometer measurement. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) 2000-09 publication Revision NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher SEM-2 > Space Environment Monitor-2 Particle sensor, magnetometer, and X-Ray sensor The EPS accurately measures the number of particles over a broad energy range, including protons, electrons, and alpha particles. The magnetometer sensors can operate independently and simultaneously to measure the magnitude and direction of the Earth's geomagnetic field, detect variations in the magnetic field near the spacecraft, provide alerts of solar wind shocks or sudden impulses that impact the magnetosphere, and assess the level of geomagnetic activity. The second magnetometer sensor serves as a backup. The XRS is an x-ray telescope that observes and measures solar x-ray emissions in two ranges: one from 0.05 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) and the second from 0.1 to 0.8 nm. In real-time, it measures the intensity and duration of solar flares NOAA-9 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-9 NOAA-9 (F) - Launched: December 12, 1984. Instruments: AVHRR/2, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), SBUV/2, ERBE, SARSAT (SARR, SARP) and Argos/DCS. Operational dates: February 25, 1985 to November 7, 1988. NOAA-9 was the second operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (166" long by 74" high) and powered by a 191" by 94" solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2000 pounds. NOAA-9 was placed in a near circular, (470nm) polar orbit. The APT and HRPT capabilities still exist with this satellite. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/2 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/2 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. SBUV/2 > Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet Radiometer/2 imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer) Instrument Type: imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer), Operational Mode: Discrete mode, sweep mode or diffuser plate mode., Collection Type: nonspatial scanning, Other Information: The SBUV/2 is a nadir pointing nonspatial scanning instrument sensitive to radiation in the 160 nm to 400 nm ultraviolet spectrum. The SBUV/2 instruments on the TIROS-N satellites are designed to measure the total ozone in a vertical column beneath the satellite and its distribution with height in the atmosphere. The SBUV/2 contains a scanning double monochromator and a cloud cover radiometer (CCR) designed to measure ultraviolet (UV) spectral intensities. In its primary mode of operation, the monochromator measures solar radiation backscatter by the atmosphere in 12 discrete wavelength bands in the near-UV, ranging from 252.0 to 339.8 nm, each with a bandpass of 1.1 nm. The total-ozone algorithm uses the four longest wavelength bands (312.5, 317.5, 331.1, and 339.8 nm), whereas the profiling algorithm uses the shorter wavelengths. The cloud cover radiometer operates at 379 nm (i.e. outside the ozone absorption band) with a 3.0-nm bandpass and was designed to measure the reflectivity of the surface in the instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The SBUV/2 also makes periodic measurements of the solar flux by deploying a diffuser plate into the field of view (FOV) to reflect sunlight into the instrument. The monochromator and the cloud cover radiometer are mounted so that they look in the nadir direction with coincident nominal FOV's of 11.3 by 11.3 degrees. As the satellite moves in a Sun-synchronous orbit, the FOV traces 160-km wide paths on the ground. The earth rotates approximately 26 degrees during each orbit. The satellite footprint moves at a speed of about 6 km/sec. In discrete mode a set of 12 measurements, 1 for each discrete wavelength band, is taken every 32 seconds. The order of measurements is 252.0 to 339.8 and the integration time is 1.25 seconds per measurement. For each monochromator measurement there is a cloud cover radiometer measurement. NOAA-18 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-18 NOAA-18 (N) - Launch: May 20, 2005. Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/4, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, MHS), SBUV/2, SARSAT (SARR, SARP/2) and DCS/2. Operational Dates: August 30, 2005 to Present. Operational Status: PM Secondary. NOAA-18 marks the beginning of the NOAA and European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) agreement. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor IJPS > Initial Joint Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System sponsor AVHRR/3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: HIRS/4 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/4 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The HIRS/4 instrument provides multispectral data from one visible channel (0.69 m), seven shortwave channels (3.7 to 4.6 m) and twelve longwave channels (6.7 to 15 m) using a single telescope and a rotating filter wheel containing twenty individual spectral filters. An elliptical scan mirror provides cross-track scanning of 56 steps in increments of 1.8 degrees. The mirror steps rapidly (<35 msec), then holds at each position while the optical radiation , passing through the 20 spectral filters, is sampled. This action takes place each 0.1 second. The instantaneous field of view for each channel is approximately 0.7 degrees which, from a spacecraft altitude of 833 km, encompasses a circular area of 10 km at nadir on the earth. AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A sounder and profiler Instrument Type: sounder and profiler, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: stepped-line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-A is a 15-channel cross-track, stepped-line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 3.3 degrees at the half-power points providing a nominal spatial resolution at nadir of 48 km (29.8 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.3 degrees (-48.3 degrees) from nadir with a total of 30 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8 seconds. MHS > Microwave Humidity Sounder sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous line scanning, Other Information: MHS is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.11 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 17 km (10.56 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +50 degrees (-50 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds. SBUV/2 > Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet Radiometer/2 imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer) Instrument Type: imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer), Operational Mode: Discrete mode, sweep mode or diffuser plate mode., Collection Type: nonspatial scanning, Other Information: The SBUV/2 is a nadir pointing nonspatial scanning instrument sensitive to radiation in the 160 nm to 400 nm ultraviolet spectrum. The SBUV/2 instruments on the TIROS-N satellites are designed to measure the total ozone in a vertical column beneath the satellite and its distribution with height in the atmosphere. The SBUV/2 contains a scanning double monochromator and a cloud cover radiometer (CCR) designed to measure ultraviolet (UV) spectral intensities. In its primary mode of operation, the monochromator measures solar radiation backscatter by the atmosphere in 12 discrete wavelength bands in the near-UV, ranging from 252.0 to 339.8 nm, each with a bandpass of 1.1 nm. The total-ozone algorithm uses the four longest wavelength bands (312.5, 317.5, 331.1, and 339.8 nm), whereas the profiling algorithm uses the shorter wavelengths. The cloud cover radiometer operates at 379 nm (i.e. outside the ozone absorption band) with a 3.0-nm bandpass and was designed to measure the reflectivity of the surface in the instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The SBUV/2 also makes periodic measurements of the solar flux by deploying a diffuser plate into the field of view (FOV) to reflect sunlight into the instrument. The monochromator and the cloud cover radiometer are mounted so that they look in the nadir direction with coincident nominal FOV's of 11.3 by 11.3 degrees. As the satellite moves in a Sun-synchronous orbit, the FOV traces 160-km wide paths on the ground. The earth rotates approximately 26 degrees during each orbit. The satellite footprint moves at a speed of about 6 km/sec. In discrete mode a set of 12 measurements, 1 for each discrete wavelength band, is taken every 32 seconds. The order of measurements is 252.0 to 339.8 and the integration time is 1.25 seconds per measurement. For each monochromator measurement there is a cloud cover radiometer measurement. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) 2000-09 publication Revision NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher SEM-2 > Space Environment Monitor-2 Particle sensor, magnetometer, and X-Ray sensor The EPS accurately measures the number of particles over a broad energy range, including protons, electrons, and alpha particles. The magnetometer sensors can operate independently and simultaneously to measure the magnitude and direction of the Earth's geomagnetic field, detect variations in the magnetic field near the spacecraft, provide alerts of solar wind shocks or sudden impulses that impact the magnetosphere, and assess the level of geomagnetic activity. The second magnetometer sensor serves as a backup. The XRS is an x-ray telescope that observes and measures solar x-ray emissions in two ranges: one from 0.05 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) and the second from 0.1 to 0.8 nm. In real-time, it measures the intensity and duration of solar flares NOAA-14 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-14 NOAA-14 (J) - Launch: December 30, 1994. Instruments: AVHRR/2, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), SBUV/2 SEM, SARSAT (SARR, SARP) and Argos/DCS. Operational Dates: April 11, 1995 to October 07, 2002. Operational Status: decommissioned on May 23, 2007. NOAA-14 was placed in a near circular, (470nm) polar orbit. It is the sixth operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series and replaced NOAA-11. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped and powered by a 191" by 94"solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2200 pounds. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/2 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/2 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. SBUV/2 > Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet Radiometer/2 imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer) Instrument Type: imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer), Operational Mode: Discrete mode, sweep mode or diffuser plate mode., Collection Type: nonspatial scanning, Other Information: The SBUV/2 is a nadir pointing nonspatial scanning instrument sensitive to radiation in the 160 nm to 400 nm ultraviolet spectrum. The SBUV/2 instruments on the TIROS-N satellites are designed to measure the total ozone in a vertical column beneath the satellite and its distribution with height in the atmosphere. The SBUV/2 contains a scanning double monochromator and a cloud cover radiometer (CCR) designed to measure ultraviolet (UV) spectral intensities. In its primary mode of operation, the monochromator measures solar radiation backscatter by the atmosphere in 12 discrete wavelength bands in the near-UV, ranging from 252.0 to 339.8 nm, each with a bandpass of 1.1 nm. The total-ozone algorithm uses the four longest wavelength bands (312.5, 317.5, 331.1, and 339.8 nm), whereas the profiling algorithm uses the shorter wavelengths. The cloud cover radiometer operates at 379 nm (i.e. outside the ozone absorption band) with a 3.0-nm bandpass and was designed to measure the reflectivity of the surface in the instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The SBUV/2 also makes periodic measurements of the solar flux by deploying a diffuser plate into the field of view (FOV) to reflect sunlight into the instrument. The monochromator and the cloud cover radiometer are mounted so that they look in the nadir direction with coincident nominal FOV's of 11.3 by 11.3 degrees. As the satellite moves in a Sun-synchronous orbit, the FOV traces 160-km wide paths on the ground. The earth rotates approximately 26 degrees during each orbit. The satellite footprint moves at a speed of about 6 km/sec. In discrete mode a set of 12 measurements, 1 for each discrete wavelength band, is taken every 32 seconds. The order of measurements is 252.0 to 339.8 and the integration time is 1.25 seconds per measurement. For each monochromator measurement there is a cloud cover radiometer measurement. NOAA-17 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-17 NOAA-17 (M) - Launched: June 24, 2002. Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/3, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B), SBUV/2, SEM/2, SARSAT, DCS/2. Operational Status: AM backup. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.2.1, HIRS/3 2000-09 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25123 Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Kathy (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/3 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/3 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: TBD AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A sounder and profiler Instrument Type: sounder and profiler, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: stepped-line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-A is a 15-channel cross-track, stepped-line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 3.3 degrees at the half-power points providing a nominal spatial resolution at nadir of 48 km (29.8 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.3 degrees (-48.3 degrees) from nadir with a total of 30 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8 seconds. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.4, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) 2000-09 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25182 Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Kathy B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher AMSU-B > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit B sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-B is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.1 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 16 km (9.94 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.95 degrees (-48.95 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds. SBUV/2 > Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet Radiometer/2 imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer) Instrument Type: imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer), Operational Mode: Discrete mode, sweep mode or diffuser plate mode., Collection Type: nonspatial scanning, Other Information: The SBUV/2 is a nadir pointing nonspatial scanning instrument sensitive to radiation in the 160 nm to 400 nm ultraviolet spectrum. The SBUV/2 instruments on the TIROS-N satellites are designed to measure the total ozone in a vertical column beneath the satellite and its distribution with height in the atmosphere. The SBUV/2 contains a scanning double monochromator and a cloud cover radiometer (CCR) designed to measure ultraviolet (UV) spectral intensities. In its primary mode of operation, the monochromator measures solar radiation backscatter by the atmosphere in 12 discrete wavelength bands in the near-UV, ranging from 252.0 to 339.8 nm, each with a bandpass of 1.1 nm. The total-ozone algorithm uses the four longest wavelength bands (312.5, 317.5, 331.1, and 339.8 nm), whereas the profiling algorithm uses the shorter wavelengths. The cloud cover radiometer operates at 379 nm (i.e. outside the ozone absorption band) with a 3.0-nm bandpass and was designed to measure the reflectivity of the surface in the instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The SBUV/2 also makes periodic measurements of the solar flux by deploying a diffuser plate into the field of view (FOV) to reflect sunlight into the instrument. The monochromator and the cloud cover radiometer are mounted so that they look in the nadir direction with coincident nominal FOV's of 11.3 by 11.3 degrees. As the satellite moves in a Sun-synchronous orbit, the FOV traces 160-km wide paths on the ground. The earth rotates approximately 26 degrees during each orbit. The satellite footprint moves at a speed of about 6 km/sec. In discrete mode a set of 12 measurements, 1 for each discrete wavelength band, is taken every 32 seconds. The order of measurements is 252.0 to 339.8 and the integration time is 1.25 seconds per measurement. For each monochromator measurement there is a cloud cover radiometer measurement. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) 2000-09 publication Revision NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher SEM-2 > Space Environment Monitor-2 Particle sensor, magnetometer, and X-Ray sensor The EPS accurately measures the number of particles over a broad energy range, including protons, electrons, and alpha particles. The magnetometer sensors can operate independently and simultaneously to measure the magnitude and direction of the Earth's geomagnetic field, detect variations in the magnetic field near the spacecraft, provide alerts of solar wind shocks or sudden impulses that impact the magnetosphere, and assess the level of geomagnetic activity. The second magnetometer sensor serves as a backup. The XRS is an x-ray telescope that observes and measures solar x-ray emissions in two ranges: one from 0.05 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) and the second from 0.1 to 0.8 nm. In real-time, it measures the intensity and duration of solar flares METOP-A > Meteorological Operational Satellite - A MetOp-A (MetOp-2) Launched: October 19, 2006. Dates of Operation: May 21, 2007 - Present. Instruments: A/DCS, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, ASCAT, AVHRR, GOME-2, GRAS, HIRS, IASI, MHS, SARP-3, SARR and SEM. Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit 09.30 mean local solar time (Equator crossing, descending node), morning satellite. Mission Duration: Expected to be operational for 4.5 to 5 years operational. The NOAA satellites are deployed in "afternoon" orbits and MetOp will take up service in a "morning" orbit. NOAA and EUMETSAT will operate and control their respective polar-orbiting satellites and ground segments. However, data collected by all the satellites will be shared and exchanged between NOAA and EUMETSAT. Under the Initial Joint Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System (IJPS) agreement between NOAA and EUMETSAT, both parties will cooperatively provide blind orbit coverage and emergency support for global data retrieval as well as for command and telemetry services. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor EUMETSAT > European Meteorological Satellite Organisation +49 6151 807345 +49 6151 807538 Am Kavalleriesand 31 Darmstadt Hessen D-64295 Germany custodian IJPS > Initial Joint Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System sponsor AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A sounder and profiler Instrument Type: sounder and profiler, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: stepped-line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-A is a 15-channel cross-track, stepped-line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 3.3 degrees at the half-power points providing a nominal spatial resolution at nadir of 48 km (29.8 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.3 degrees (-48.3 degrees) from nadir with a total of 30 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8 seconds. ASCAT > Advanced Scatterometer scatterometer Instrument Type: scatterometer, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: radar, Other Information: ASCAT is a real aperture radar operating at 5.255 GHz (C-band) and using vertically polarized antennae. It transmits a long pulse with Linear Frequency Modulation ('chirp'). Ground echoes are received by the instrument and, after de-chirping, the backscattered signal is spectrally analysed and detected. In the power spectrum, frequency can be mapped into slant range provided the chirp rate and the Doppler frequency are known. The above processing is in effect a pulse compression, which provides range resolution. Its use of six antennas allows the simultaneous coverage of two swaths on either side of the satellite ground track and hence provides twice the information of the earlier instruments. The width of each double swath is 550 km with a gap around satellite track of 700 km. On an experimental basis, ASCAT also provides measurements at a higher than nominal resolution. The ASCAT instrument may operate in three different modes, Measurement, Calibration and Test. Additionally, in Measurement mode the instrument occasionally generates special source packets for Gain Compression Monitoring. The nominal instrument mode, and the only one that generates science data for the users, is Measurement mode. AVHRR/3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: GOME-2 Products Guide, 4.1 The GOME-2 Instrument 2005-02-28 publication gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:30434 EUMETSAT > European Meteorological Satellite Organisation +49(0)6151-807 7 +49(0)6151-807 555 EUMETSAT Eumetsat Allee 1 Darmstadt N/A D-64295 Germany For information, go to: http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/AboutEUMETSAT/Contact_Us/index.htm?l=en originator GOME-2 > Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: across-track and sideways, Other Information: The GOME-2 is an optical spectrometer, fed by a scan mirror which enables across-track scanning in nadir, as well as sideways viewing for polar coverage and instrument characterization measurements using the moon. The scan mirror directs light into a telescope, designed to match the field of view of the instrument to the dimensions of the entrance slit. This scan mirror can also be directed towards internal calibration sources or towards a diffuser plate for calibration measurements using the sun. HIRS/4 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/4 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The HIRS/4 instrument provides multispectral data from one visible channel (0.69 m), seven shortwave channels (3.7 to 4.6 m) and twelve longwave channels (6.7 to 15 m) using a single telescope and a rotating filter wheel containing twenty individual spectral filters. An elliptical scan mirror provides cross-track scanning of 56 steps in increments of 1.8 degrees. The mirror steps rapidly (<35 msec), then holds at each position while the optical radiation , passing through the 20 spectral filters, is sampled. This action takes place each 0.1 second. The instantaneous field of view for each channel is approximately 0.7 degrees which, from a spacecraft altitude of 833 km, encompasses a circular area of 10 km at nadir on the earth. MHS > Microwave Humidity Sounder sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous line scanning, Other Information: MHS is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.11 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 17 km (10.56 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +50 degrees (-50 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds. GRAS Products Guide, 4.1. The GRAS instrument 2006-11-09 publication gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:31979 EUMETSAT > European Meteorological Satellite Organisation +49(0)6151-807 7 +49(0)6151-807 555 EUMETSAT Eumetsat Allee 1 Darmstadt N/A D-64295 Germany For information, go to: http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/AboutEUMETSAT/Contact_Us/index.htm?l=en originator GRAS > Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding GPS Receiver Instrument Type: GPS Receiver, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: TBD, Other Information: GRAS will not view the Earth system with a vertical scan but will instead look tangentially through the Earth's atmosphere. The instrument will measure the time delay of the refracted GPS radio signals as the ray (signal path) skirts the Earth's atmosphere on its way from the transmitting GPS satellite to MetOp. By precisely computing position and velocity of MetOp and the GPS satellite, the measured time delay can be converted to the bending angle of the ray path, which again can be converted to values of temperature, pressure and water vapor content in the atmosphere. The resulting quantities will be functions of height above sea level (from ground level up to approximately 80 km), an atmospheric profile. IASI > Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer Infrared Michaelson Interferometer Instrument Type: Infrared Michaelson Interferometer, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: sounder, Other Information: NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) 2000-09 publication Revision NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher SEM-2 > Space Environment Monitor-2 Particle sensor, magnetometer, and X-Ray sensor The EPS accurately measures the number of particles over a broad energy range, including protons, electrons, and alpha particles. The magnetometer sensors can operate independently and simultaneously to measure the magnitude and direction of the Earth's geomagnetic field, detect variations in the magnetic field near the spacecraft, provide alerts of solar wind shocks or sudden impulses that impact the magnetosphere, and assess the level of geomagnetic activity. The second magnetometer sensor serves as a backup. The XRS is an x-ray telescope that observes and measures solar x-ray emissions in two ranges: one from 0.05 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) and the second from 0.1 to 0.8 nm. In real-time, it measures the intensity and duration of solar flares NOAA-6 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-6 NOAA-6 (A) - Launched on June 27, 1979. Instruments: AVHRR, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), SEM and Argos/DCS. Operational Dates: June 27, 1979 to March 5, 1983 and July 3, 1984 to November 16, 1986. NOAA-6 was the first operational satellite in the TIROS-N series and set the record for the longest duration of any polar orbiting meteorological satellite to date. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (146" long by 74" high) with one large solar panel attached. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed 1594 pounds. In early 1984, only one to two NOAA-6 passes were taken per day due to priorities for NOAA-7 and 8 data. However, when NOAA-8 failed in late June 1984, NOAA-6 was returned to full operational status to continue to provide morning orbit operational data. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. NOAA-7 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-7 NOAA-7 (C)- Launched: June 23, 1981. Primary instruments: AVHRR/2, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), SEM and Argos/DCS. Operational dates: August 19, 1981 - June 7, 1986. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (146" long by 74" high) with one large solar panel attached. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed 1594 pounds. was the second operational satellite in the TIROS-N series. NOAA-7 was placed in a near circular, (470nm) polar orbit. The craft and its systems operated successfully, providing high-resolution scanned images and vertical temperature and moisture profiles to both operational meteorologists and private interests with APT and HRPT capability. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/2 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/2 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. NOAA-10 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-10 NOAA-10 (G) - Launched: September 17, 1986. Instruments: AVHRR, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), ERBE SEM, DCS, SARSAT (SARR, SARP) and Argos/DCS. Operational dates: November 17, 1986 to September 16, 1991. NOAA-10 was the third operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series. NOAA-10 was placed in a near circular, (450nm) polar orbit. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (166" long by 74" high) and powered by a 191" by 94" solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2000 pounds. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. TIROS-N > Television Infrared Observation Satellite-N TIROS-N - Launched: October 13, 1978. Instruments: AVHRR, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), SEM and Argos/DCS. Operational Dates: November 05, 1978 to January 30, 1980. TIROS-N was placed in a near circular, (470nm) polar orbit. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (146" long by 74" high) with one large solar panel attached. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed 1594 pounds. TIROS-N remained operational for 868 days until deactivated by NOAA. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. NOAA-11 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-11 NOAA-11 (H) - Launch: September 24, 1988. Instruments: AVHRR/2, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU), SBUV/2 SARSAT (SARR, SARP) and Argos/DCS. Operational Dates: November 8, 1988-April 11, 1995. NOAA-11 was placed in a near circular, (470nm) polar orbit. It was the fourth operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (166" long by 74" high) and powered by a 191" by 94" solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2000 pounds. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/2 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/2 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. SBUV/2 > Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet Radiometer/2 imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer) Instrument Type: imager (scanning monochromator) and sounder (a cloud cover radiometer), Operational Mode: Discrete mode, sweep mode or diffuser plate mode., Collection Type: nonspatial scanning, Other Information: The SBUV/2 is a nadir pointing nonspatial scanning instrument sensitive to radiation in the 160 nm to 400 nm ultraviolet spectrum. The SBUV/2 instruments on the TIROS-N satellites are designed to measure the total ozone in a vertical column beneath the satellite and its distribution with height in the atmosphere. The SBUV/2 contains a scanning double monochromator and a cloud cover radiometer (CCR) designed to measure ultraviolet (UV) spectral intensities. In its primary mode of operation, the monochromator measures solar radiation backscatter by the atmosphere in 12 discrete wavelength bands in the near-UV, ranging from 252.0 to 339.8 nm, each with a bandpass of 1.1 nm. The total-ozone algorithm uses the four longest wavelength bands (312.5, 317.5, 331.1, and 339.8 nm), whereas the profiling algorithm uses the shorter wavelengths. The cloud cover radiometer operates at 379 nm (i.e. outside the ozone absorption band) with a 3.0-nm bandpass and was designed to measure the reflectivity of the surface in the instantaneous field of view (IFOV). The SBUV/2 also makes periodic measurements of the solar flux by deploying a diffuser plate into the field of view (FOV) to reflect sunlight into the instrument. The monochromator and the cloud cover radiometer are mounted so that they look in the nadir direction with coincident nominal FOV's of 11.3 by 11.3 degrees. As the satellite moves in a Sun-synchronous orbit, the FOV traces 160-km wide paths on the ground. The earth rotates approximately 26 degrees during each orbit. The satellite footprint moves at a speed of about 6 km/sec. In discrete mode a set of 12 measurements, 1 for each discrete wavelength band, is taken every 32 seconds. The order of measurements is 252.0 to 339.8 and the integration time is 1.25 seconds per measurement. For each monochromator measurement there is a cloud cover radiometer measurement. NOAA-12 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-12 NOAA-12 (D)- Launch: May 14, 1991. Instruments: AVHRR/2, TOVS (HIRS/2, MSU, SSU) and SEM. Operational Dates: May 14, 1991 to December 14, 1998. Operational Status: Decommissioned on May 23, 2007. NOAA-12 was placed in a near circular, (450nm) polar orbit. It was the fifth operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (166" long by 74" high) and powered by a 191" by 94" solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2000 pounds. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/2 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/2 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.1, HIRS/2 Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25124 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/2 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: The IFOV of the HIRS/2 channels are stepped across the satellite track by use of a rotating mirror. This cross-track scan, combined with the satellite's motion in orbit, will provide coverage of a major portion of the Earth's surface. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide. Section 4.3, MSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25178 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher MSU > Microwave Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: , Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The MSU sensors consist of two four-inch diameter antennas, each having an IFOV of 7.5 degrees. The antennas are step-scanned through eleven individual 1.84-second Earth viewing steps and require a total of 25.6 seconds to complete. The 124-kilometer IFOV resolution at the subpoint creates an underlap of approximately 115 km between adjacent scan lines. NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide, Section 4.2, SSU Data 1998-11 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25179 Kidwell, Katherine B. (comp. and ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher SSU > Stratospheric Sounding Unit sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: crosstrack, Collection Type: step-scan, Other Information: The SSU consists of a single primary telescope with a 10 degree IFOV which is step-scanned perpendicular to the satellite subpoint track. Each scan line is composed of eight individual 4.0 second steps and requires a total of 32 seconds, including time for the mirror retrace. The 10 degree IFOV gives a resolution of 147 km at the satellite subpoint and the stepping produces an underlap between adjacent scan lines of approximately 62 km at nadir. A calibration sequence is initiated every 256 seconds (8 scans) during which the radiometer is in turn, stepped to a position to view unobstructed space and an internal blackbody at a known temperature. NOAA-15 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-15 NOAA-15 (K) - Launch: May 13, 1998. Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/3, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B), SEM/2, SARSAT (SARR, SARP/2), Argos/DCS/2 Operational dates: December 15, 1998 to Present. Operational Status: AM Secondary. NOAA-15 was placed in a near circular, (450nm) polar orbit. It is the seventh operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series. It is the first in the series to support dedicated microwave instruments for the generation of temperature, moisture and surface hydrological products in cloudy regions where visible and infrared instruments have reduced capabilities. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (4.2m long by 1.88m high) and powered by a 6.14m by 2.73m solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2200 kg. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSO > Office of Satellite Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA / NESDIS Office of Satellite Operations, NSOF Bldg. 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 USA sponsor NASA/GSFC > Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD 20771 USA daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov 9 AM to 5 PM ET sponsor AVHRR/3 > Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 imager Instrument Type: imager, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: whiskbroom, Other Information: NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.2.1, HIRS/3 2000-09 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25123 Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Kathy (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher HIRS/3 > High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/3 sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous scan, Other Information: TBD AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A sounder and profiler Instrument Type: sounder and profiler, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: stepped-line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-A is a 15-channel cross-track, stepped-line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 3.3 degrees at the half-power points providing a nominal spatial resolution at nadir of 48 km (29.8 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.3 degrees (-48.3 degrees) from nadir with a total of 30 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8 seconds. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.4, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) 2000-09 publication revision gov.noaa.ngdc.fgdccitation:25182 Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Kathy B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher AMSU-B > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit B sounder Instrument Type: sounder, Operational Mode: cross-track, Collection Type: continuous line scanning, Other Information: AMSU-B is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.1 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 16 km (9.94 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.95 degrees (-48.95 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds. NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) 2000-09 publication Revision NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.5, Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.) originator Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.) originator Winston, Wayne (ed.) originator DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service publisher SEM-2 > Space Environment Monitor-2 Particle sensor, magnetometer, and X-Ray sensor The EPS accurately measures the number of particles over a broad energy range, including protons, electrons, and alpha particles. The magnetometer sensors can operate independently and simultaneously to measure the magnitude and direction of the Earth's geomagnetic field, detect variations in the magnetic field near the spacecraft, provide alerts of solar wind shocks or sudden impulses that impact the magnetosphere, and assess the level of geomagnetic activity. The second magnetometer sensor serves as a backup. The XRS is an x-ray telescope that observes and measures solar x-ray emissions in two ranges: one from 0.05 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) and the second from 0.1 to 0.8 nm. In real-time, it measures the intensity and duration of solar flares