– the origin of dangerous atmospheric phenomena (typhoons, squall, tornados,
heavy rains, hail and thunderstorm clouds).
Contemporary instruments for remote sensing of the atmosphere and surface are
very rich (multi channel radiometers and spectrometers) and registry of the electromagnetic radiation in different spectral intervals. Classification of instruments can
be done on the basis of:
– measurements type (instruments for active and passive remote sensing);
– geometry of observations (nadir and limb);
– spectral intervals where electro-magnetic radiation registered (UV, visual, IR,
microwave);
– specific features of observations (with space scanning or not, multi angle, etc.);
In ranges of the above classification of the various set of radiometers is
elaborated and successfully used at different platforms (aircraft, balloon, rocket,
satellite) for registration of outgoing radiation. IR-radiometers, in particular, serve
for remote obtaining of the temperature of the surface and cloud top from boards of
aircraft, helicopter and meteorological satellites. Most of the satellite radiometers
are scanner type instruments because this type provides the main advances of
satellite observation: operative looking through wide territories and mapping with
high space resolution.
The first IR-scanner has been launched as a part of satellite complex “Nimbus-2”
in 1964. The accuracy was not high – errors of the surface temperature retrieval
were about several degrees. But the global scales of obtaining the information
demonstrated rich potential possibilities of such instruments and gave the important
and practical information.
After testing and tuning instruments at “Nimbus” satellites the improved IRradiometer has been set operational on meteorological satellites (MS) series ITOC/
NOAA at the polar orbit. Efficiency of MS and providing regular and simultaneous
IR-radiometer data directly to users (data are transmitted in continues regime)
making for wide satellite data assimilation in geophysics.
Launching the geostationary satellite “Meteosat-1” was the next step in development of satellite IR-radiometry. Nowadays several geostationary MS with IRradiometers at the board simultaneously function at the orbit. Geostationary MS
provide the improved data recurrence comparing with MS at polar orbits and
characterized with the longer life expectancy. But the space resolution and accuracy
of registration IR radiation are lower than for polar orbit satellites.
The MS of the fourth generation “TYROS-N” began to operate in 1978. Its
improved version was the basic element of USA space system till the end of 80th.
The radiometer AVHRR has been put at this MS and the same instrument was used
at the board of NOAA NROSS satellite for oceanic researches.
With creating improved receivers of the IR-radiation the IR-radiometry IRspectroscopy techniques are brought closer, that leads elaborating new improved
approaches of satellite data processing. Thermocouples and bolometers (which are
of high sensitivity and offer freedom of cooling) were used in first generation
radiometers. However, they possess relatively high (for the satellite observations
54
6 Construction and Operation of the Automated One-Channel IR-Radiometer
heavy rains, hail and thunderstorm clouds).
Contemporary instruments for remote sensing of the atmosphere and surface are
very rich (multi channel radiometers and spectrometers) and registry of the electromagnetic radiation in different spectral intervals. Classification of instruments can
be done on the basis of:
– measurements type (instruments for active and passive remote sensing);
– geometry of observations (nadir and limb);
– spectral intervals where electro-magnetic radiation registered (UV, visual, IR,
microwave);
– specific features of observations (with space scanning or not, multi angle, etc.);
In ranges of the above classification of the various set of radiometers is
elaborated and successfully used at different platforms (aircraft, balloon, rocket,
satellite) for registration of outgoing radiation. IR-radiometers, in particular, serve
for remote obtaining of the temperature of the surface and cloud top from boards of
aircraft, helicopter and meteorological satellites. Most of the satellite radiometers
are scanner type instruments because this type provides the main advances of
satellite observation: operative looking through wide territories and mapping with
high space resolution.
The first IR-scanner has been launched as a part of satellite complex “Nimbus-2”
in 1964. The accuracy was not high – errors of the surface temperature retrieval
were about several degrees. But the global scales of obtaining the information
demonstrated rich potential possibilities of such instruments and gave the important
and practical information.
After testing and tuning instruments at “Nimbus” satellites the improved IRradiometer has been set operational on meteorological satellites (MS) series ITOC/
NOAA at the polar orbit. Efficiency of MS and providing regular and simultaneous
IR-radiometer data directly to users (data are transmitted in continues regime)
making for wide satellite data assimilation in geophysics.
Launching the geostationary satellite “Meteosat-1” was the next step in development of satellite IR-radiometry. Nowadays several geostationary MS with IRradiometers at the board simultaneously function at the orbit. Geostationary MS
provide the improved data recurrence comparing with MS at polar orbits and
characterized with the longer life expectancy. But the space resolution and accuracy
of registration IR radiation are lower than for polar orbit satellites.
The MS of the fourth generation “TYROS-N” began to operate in 1978. Its
improved version was the basic element of USA space system till the end of 80th.
The radiometer AVHRR has been put at this MS and the same instrument was used
at the board of NOAA NROSS satellite for oceanic researches.
With creating improved receivers of the IR-radiation the IR-radiometry IRspectroscopy techniques are brought closer, that leads elaborating new improved
approaches of satellite data processing. Thermocouples and bolometers (which are
of high sensitivity and offer freedom of cooling) were used in first generation
radiometers. However, they possess relatively high (for the satellite observations
54
6 Construction and Operation of the Automated One-Channel IR-Radiometer