Satellites

NOAA-6 through NOAA-18 (see http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/ for current status)

Orbit Type

Polar

Data Types

HRPT, GAC and LAC

Instruments

AVHRR (NOAA-6 through 14) and AVHRR/3 (NOAA-15 through 18)

Resolution

1 km (VIS and IR)

Band

Central
Wavelength
(µm)

Primary Uses

1

0.63

Visible cloud and surface features

2

0.86

Visible aerosols over water, vegetation

3*

3.74

Infrared low-level cloud/fog, fire detection

4

10.8

Infrared surface/cloud-top temperature

5

12.0

Infrared surface/cloud temperature, low-level water vapor; band 5 on NOAA-10 is not available

6*

1.61

Near-infrared surface, cloud phase (NOAA-15, 16 and 17 only)

* NOAA-15, 16 and 17 channels 3A and 3B are labeled in McIDAS as bands 6 and 3, respectively.

Satellites

NOAA-6 through NOAA-18 (see http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/ for current status)

Orbit Type

Polar

Data Type

TIP

Instruments

HIRS (NOAA-6 through 14) and HIRS/3 (NOAA-15 through 18)

Resolution

20 km

Band

Central
Wavelength
(µm)

Major
Absorbing
Gases

Sounding
Level (mb)

Primary Uses

1

15.0 (IR)

CO2

30

Temperature sounding

2

14.7 (IR)

CO2

60

Temperature sounding

3

14.5 (IR)

CO2

100

Temperature sounding

4

14.2 (IR)

CO2

400

Temperature sounding

5

14.0 (IR)

CO2

600

Temperature sounding

6

13.6 (IR)

CO2, H2O

800

Temperature sounding

7

13.4 (IR)

CO2, H2O

900

Temperature sounding

8

11.1 (IR)

Window

Surface

Surface temperature

9

9.71 (IR)

O3

25

Ozone measurement

10

8.2 (IR)

H2O

900

Water vapor detection; NOAA-6 through 10 and 12

10

12.5 (IR)

H2O

Surface

Water vapor detection; NOAA-11 and 14 through 17

11

7.33 (IR)

H2O

700

Water vapor detection

12

6.8 (IR)

H2O

500

Water vapor detection (NOAA-6 through 14)

12

6.52 (IR)

H2O

500

Water vapor detection (NOAA-15 through 17)

13

4.57 (IR)

N2O

1000

Temperature sounding

14

4.52 (IR)

N2O

950

Temperature sounding

15

4.47 (IR)

CO2, N2O

700

Temperature sounding

16

4.45 (IR)

CO2, N2O

400

Temperature sounding

17

4.13 (IR)

CO2

Surface

Temperature sounding

18

4.00 (IR)

Window

Surface

Surface temperature

19

3.76 (IR)

Window

Surface

Surface temperature

20

0.69 (VIS)

Window

Cloud

Daytime cloud detection

Satellites

NOAA-6 through NOAA-14 (see http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/ for current status)

Orbit Type

Polar

Data Type

TIP

Instrument

MSU

Resolution

150 km

Band

Frequency
(GHz)

Major
Absorbing
Gases

Primary Uses

1

50.3

O2

Temperature sounding

2

53.8

O2

Temperature sounding

3

55.0

O2

Temperature sounding

4

58.0

O2

Temperature sounding

Satellites

NOAA-15 through NOAA-18 (see http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/ for current status)

Orbit Type

Polar

Data Type

TIP

Instrument

AMSU-A

Resolution

50 km

1

23.8

Surface temperature

2

31.4

Surface temperature

3

50.3

Surface temperature

4

52.8

Troposphere temperature

5

53.6

Troposphere temperature

6

54.4

Troposphere temperature

7

54.9

Troposphere temperature

8

55.5

Tropopause temperature

9

57.3

Tropopause temperature

10

57.3

Temperature sounding: 2-band combo 57.3 +/- .2

11

57.3

Temperature sounding: 4 bands (57.3 +/- .3) +/- .048

12

57.3

Temperature sounding: 4 bands (57.3 +/- .3) +/- .022

13

57.3

Temperature sounding: 4 bands (57.3 +/- .3) +/- .010

14

57.3

Temperature sounding: 4 bands (57.3 +/- .3) +/- .004

15

89.0

Surface characteristics

Satellites

NOAA-15 through NOAA-18 (see http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/ for current status)

Orbit Type

Polar

Data Type

TIP

Instrument

AMSU-B

Resolution

16 km

16

89.0

Temperature sounding: 2 band combo 89.0 +/- .9

17

150.0

Temperature sounding: 2 band combo 150.0 +/- .9

18

183.3

Temperature sounding: 2 band combo 183.3 +/- 1.0

19

183.3

Temperature sounding: 2 band combo 183.3 +/- 3.0

20

183.3

Temperature sounding: 2 band combo 183.3 +/- 7.0