AIRS: '''A'''tmospheric '''I'''nfra'''R'''ed '''S'''ounder

What is AIRS and what does the AIRS instrument suite measure?

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is a facility instrument onboard the polar-orbiting Earth Observing System (EOS) Aqua satellite which was successfully launched on May 4, 2002. In combination with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU-A) and the Humidity Sounder for Brazil (HSB), the AIRS instrument suite constitutes an innovative atmospheric sounding group of visible, infrared, and microwave sensors.

AIRS is a high spectral resolution spectrometer with 2378 bands in the thermal infrared (3.7 - 15.4 µm) and 4 bands in the visible (0.4 - 1.0 µm). These ranges have been specifically selected to allow determination of atmospheric temperature with an accuracy of 1°C in layers 1 km thick, and humidity with an accuracy of 20% in layers 2 km thick in the troposphere.

For more information see the AIRS instrument guide:

http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/AIRS/additional/documentation/airs_instrument_guide.shtml

AIRS will make measurements of the Earth's atmosphere and surface that will allow scientists to improve weather prediction and to observe changes in Earth's climate.

Quelle: http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/AIRS/additional/instruments.shtml#1.