CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - TOVS (HIRS/2 + MSU + SSU) -
Full Name TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder Status No longer operational
Instrument Agencies NOAA Maturity
Instrument Type Atmospheric temperature and humidity sounders Geometry Cross-track scanning
Instrument Technology Sampling Sounding
Data Access Data Format
Measurements and Applications TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder suite of instruments.
Resolution Summary
Swath Summary
Accuracy Summary
Waveband Summary
NIR (~0.75 µm - ~1.3 µm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (LT, HT)
Atmospheric Temperature FieldsAtmospheric temperature (LT, HT, LS, HS&M)
Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperatureCloud top height
Cloud top temperature
Radiation budgetLong-wave cloud emissivity
Trace gases (excluding ozone)CO2 Mole Fraction
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Carbon Dioxide, Methane and other Greenhouse gases click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Cloud Properties click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Temperature (upper-air) click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Water Vapour (upper air) click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
NOAA-9 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 9 (1984 - 1998)
NOAA-10 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 10 (1986 - 2001)
NOAA-11 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 11 (1988 - 2004)
NOAA-14 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 14 (1994 - 2005)