PUSH-BROOM IMAGER FOR CLOUD AND AEROSOL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Pushbroom Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and Development (PICARD) is a VNIR-SWIR airborne imaging spectrometer that primarily acquires imagery from the NASA ER-2 high altitude research aircraft. Operating over a wavelength range of 400-2500nm, the dual Offner spectrometers are mounted to a single four-mirror anastigmat telescope, designed to produce a distortion-free 50-degree field of view over cloud scenes. This wide field of view from high altitude provides a synoptic view of regional-scale atmospheric phenomena, and enables easier cross-comparisons with satellite imagery (e.g. MODIS, VIIRS, etc.) PICARD is designed to operate in conjunction with the Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (eMAS) on the ER-2, with the two data sets being merged post-fight, for a combined spectral range of 0.400 - 14.133µm. Data acquired by PICARD will be used to simulate existing satellite imager products, validate radiances and geophysical retrieval algorithms (with a particular emphasis on cloud micro-physics and their role in global climate dynamics), and to prototype future imager requirements.
The principal scientific investigator for PICARD is Dr. Kerry Meyer, a Senior Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Type: | VNIR-SWIR Airborne Imaging Spectrometer |
|---|---|
| Platform: | NASA ER-2, & G-V |
| Ground Speed: | Variable (depending on altitude) |
| Altitude: | 1 - 20 Km (5,000 - 65,000 Ft) |
| Pixel Spatial Resolution: | 5 - 50 Meters (depending on altitude) |
| Pixels per Spectral Band: | 412 (roll corrected) |
| Integration Time: | 5.2 - 80mSec (limited by frame rate/altitude) |
| Swath Width: | 2 - 16 Km (depending on altitude) |
| Field of View: | 50° |
| Telescope: | f/2.8 30mm 4-mirror anastigmat |
| Effective Focal Length | 30.4mm |
| Instantaneous FOV (cross track): | 2.12 mrad |
| Instantaneous FOV (along track): | 1.00 mrad |
| Roll Correction: | +/- 15° |
| Data Channels: | 204 |
| Spectral Bands: | 204 (digitized to 16-bit resolution) |
| VNIR Spectrometer: | 64 10nm FWHM bands, 370 - 990nm |
| SWIR Spectrometer: | 140 10nm FWHM bands, 1.00 - 2.40µm |
| Frame Rate: | 6.25 - 100Hz (depending on integration time) |
| Radiometric Calibration: | Integrating Lamp / Dark Current (ground-based & on-board) |
| Sample Imagery |
| Click image for full resolution |
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Flight: 24-631 Central Coast, CA |
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R: 830nm G: 650nm B: 560nm |
