The ability to accurately validate high spectral resolution infrared radiance measurements from space using comparisons with aircraft spectrometer observations has been successfully demonstrated. The demonstration is based on an under-flight of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on the NASA Aqua spacecraft by the Scanning High resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) on the NASA ER-2 high altitude aircraft on 21 November 2002 and resulted in brightness temperature differences approaching 0.1K for most of the spectrum. This paper presents the details of this AIRS/S-HIS validation case and also presents comparisons of Aqua AIRS and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) radiance observations. Aircraft comparisons of this type provide a mechanism for periodically testing the absolute calibration of spacecraft instruments with instrumentation for which the calibration can be carefully maintained on the ground. This capability is especially valuable for assuring the long-term consistency and accuracy of climate observations. It is expected that aircraft flights of the S-HIS and its close cousin the National Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Atmospheric Sounder Testbed (NAST) will be used to check the long-term stability of the NASA EOS spacecrafts (Terra, Aqua and Aura) and the follow-on complement of operational instruments, including the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS).


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Validation of Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) spectral radiances with the Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) aircraft instrument



    Conference:

    Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere IX ; 2004 ; Maspalomas,Canary Islands,Spain


    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2004-11-30





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    AIRS atmospheric infrared sounder status

    Aumann, George H. / Pagano, Thomas S. / Aumann, Hartmut H. et al. | NTRS | 2004





    The EOS Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Design and Performance

    Chahine, M. / O'Callaghan, F. / Aumann, H. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994