High-Resolution Interferometer Sounder

Millimeter-Wave Imaging Radiometer

The Millimeter-Wave Imaging Radiometer (MIR) is a nine channel radiometer developed for atmospheric research. Three dual pass band channels are centered about the strongly opaque 183 GHz water absorption line and a fourth channel is located at 150 GHz. These four channels have varying degrees of opacity from which the water vapor profile can inferred. There are two additional channels located at 89 GHz and 220 GHz. The design includes three additional channels centered about 325 GHz which are supplied by the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Frequencies and polarization were chosen to match those of the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) planned for NOAA operational polar weather satellites and the Earth Observing System (EOS). Frequencies also match closely with those of the Special Sensor Microwave Temperature Sounder-2 (SSMT-2) now aboard the DMSP satellite.

Information regarding this instrument may obtained from:

Paul Racette
NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 975, Greenbelt, MD 20771.

Additional information regarding ER-2 acquired photographic and digital data is available through the Aircraft Data Facility at Ames Research Center. For specific information regarding flight documentation, sensor parameters, and areas of coverage contact:

Aircraft Data Facility
NASA-Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 240-6, Moffett Field, California 94035-1000
(Telephone: 415-604-6252).

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The Modis Airborne Simulator (MAS) is a modified Daedalus multispectral scanner configured to replicate the capabilities of the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS), an instrument to be orbited on an EOS platform. MODIS is designed for the measurement of biological and physical processes and atmospheric temperature sounding. The Modis Airborne Simulator records fifty 12-bit channels of multispectral data and is configured as follows:

NOTE: Bandpass centers approximate

Sensor/Aircraft Parameters:

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The NASA-Ames High Definition Electro-Optic Camera System (EOC) is an experimental sensor under development by the High Altitude Missions Branch at NASA-Ames Research Center. The system captures high resolution digitized images from a solid-state video camera and stores the imagery on magnetic tape. System characteristics are as follows:

CCD Video Camera
FOV:		0.2 mrad
Ground Resolution:		15.8 feet (4.81 meters at 65,000 feet)
Total Scan Angle:		13.96o
Swath Width:		3.3 nmi (6.2 km) x 2.7 nmi (4.9 km) at 65,000 feet
Spectral Coverage:		400-900 nm
Frame Size:		1280 pixels x 1025 pixels
Lens (Interchangeable):		28 mm
Shutter Speed:		Selectable
Aperture:		f/2.8
Filtration:		4 and 6 position filter wheels (4 and 6 spectral filters)
		Polarizing Filter
Tracking Capability:		Tilt 450 fore and aft

Data Collection
Frame Rate:		1 image every 3 seconds
Frame Overlap:		90% (to 40% w/6 filters)
Data Storage:		Tape Cassette
Capacity:		5.0 Gbytes

For additional information contact :

Ted Hildum
NASA-Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 240-6, Moffett Field, California 94035-1000.

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The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an integrated system of several radiometers. The system provides airborne measurements to support analysis and theoretical calculations of cloud properties and radiation fields and to provide validation of satellite radiance measurements. The airborne instruments consist of the following:

• an electrically calibrated pyroelectric radiometer for hemispherical, broad spectral bandpass, radiative flux measurements in the solar spectral region (0.26 to 2.6 mm). This radiometerhas two detectors;
• an IR net flux radiometer (rotating) radiometer covering the spectral range from 5 to 40 mm;
• a narrow field-of-view, narrow spectral bandpass IR radiometer (2 channels in the 5 to 40 mm region). This radiometer uses a liquid nitrogen cooled black body reference. This instrument provides upwelling infrared intensities above cloud; and
• a total-direct-diffuse multichannel narrow spectral bandpass (about 5 to 10 nm) fluxradiometer. This radiometer is used for optical depth determinations and direct/diffuse ratios.

For additional information regarding this system contact:

Francisco P.J. Valero
Atmospheric Physics Research Branch
NASA-Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 245-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000.

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The Cloud Lidar System (CLS) is flown on the ER-2 to conduct cloud radiation and severe storm field experiments. Designed to operate at high altitudes in order to obtain measurements above the highest clouds, the instrument provides the true height of cloud boundaries and the density structure of less dense clouds. The height structure of cirrus, cloud top density and multiple cloud layers may also be profiled. System specifications are as follows:

	Transmitter
		Laser Type:		Nd:YAG I,II
		Wavelength:		1064, 532 nm
		Pulse Energy:		90, 30 mJ
		PRF:			10 Hz
		Beamwidth:		1 mrad
		Data Acquisition:   	Measurements at 20m intervals at 200 m/sec 
					aircraft speed

	Receiver
		Diameter: 		0.15 m
		Beamwidth:		1.4 mrad
		Polarization:		v & h

	Data System
		Range Resolution:	7.5 m
		Number of Channels: 	4
		Samples per Channel:	3310	
		Record Capacity:	8 hours

For additional information regarding this instrument contact:

Dr. James Spinhirne
NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 917, Greenbelt, MD 20771.

Additional information regarding ER-2 acquired photographic and digital data is available through the Aircraft Data Facility at Ames Research Center. For specific information regarding flight documentation, sensor parameters, and areas of coverage contact:

Aircraft Data Facility
NASA-Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 240-6, Moffett Field, California 94035-1000
(Telephone: 415-604-6252).

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Camera Systems