Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
five-channel scanning radiometer sensitive in the visible, near-infrared, and infrared
parts of the spectrum. Examples of its temperature-sensing include land, sea, and
cloud-top temperature. It stores measurements on tape, and plays them back to
NOAA’s command and data acquisition stations. Provides the primary imaging sys-
tem for both the High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT, 1.1 km resolution)
and the Automatic Picture Transmission (APT, 4 km resolution) images
that are transmitted by the spacecraft.
TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS)
combines data from three complementary instrument units (HIRS, MSU, and
SSU to provide the following atmospheric data: temperature profile of the Eart h ’s
a t m o s p h e re from the surface to 10 millibars, water content, ozone content,
carbon dioxide content, and oxygen content of the Eart h ’s atmosphere.
ARGOS Data Collection and Platform Location System
French-provided system collects data from sensors on fixed and moving platforms
and transmits various environmental parameters. Provides for the receipt, pro c e s s i n g ,
and storage of data (temperature, pressure, altitude, etc.), and for the location
of the moving platforms for later transmission to a central processing facility.
Space Environment Monitor (SEM)
detects radiation at various energy levels in space, measuring energetic particles
emitted by the Sun over essentially the full range of energies and magnetic field
variations in the Earth’s near-space environment. It measures the proton, alpha, and
electron flux activity near the Earth.
Search and Rescue (SAR)
equipment receives emergency distress signals and transmits the signals to ground
receiving stations in the U.S. and overseas. Signals are forwarded to the nearest res-
cue coordination center.
Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)
radiometer that measures all radiation striking and leaving the Earth - enabling
scientists to measure the loss or gain of terrestrial energy to space (NOAA 9 & 10
experiment).
Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Experiment (SBUV)
makes measurements (afternoon satellites only) from which total ozone
concentration and vertical distribution of ozone in the atmosphere
can be determined; measures solar spectral irradiance from 160
to 400 nanometers.
