CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - HIRS/3 -
Full Name High Resolution Infra-red Sounder/3 Status No longer operational
Instrument Agencies NOAA Maturity High Heritage - Operational
Instrument Type Atmospheric temperature and humidity sounders Geometry Cross-track scanning
Instrument Technology Narrow-band channel IR radiometer Sampling Sounding
Data Access Data Format
Measurements and Applications Atmospheric temperature profiles and data on cloud parameters, humidity soundings, water vapour, total ozone content, and surface temperatures.
Resolution Summary 20.3 km
Swath Summary 2240 km
Accuracy Summary
Waveband Summary VIS - TIR: 0.69 - 14.95 µm (20 channels)
VIS (~0.40 µm - ~0.75 µm)
NIR (~0.75 µm - ~1.3 µm)
SWIR (~1.3 µm - ~3.0 µm)
MWIR (~3.0 µm - ~6.0 µm)
TIR (~6.0 µm - ~15.0 µm)
FIR (~15.0 µm - ~0.1 cm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (LT, HT, TC)
Atmospheric Temperature FieldsAtmospheric temperature (LT, HT, LS, TC)
Temperature of tropopause
Cloud particle properties and profilePrecipitation Profile (liquid or solid)
Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperatureCloud top height
Cloud top temperature
OzoneO3 Mole Fraction
Radiation budgetUpward long-wave irradiance at TOA
Surface temperature (land)Land surface temperature
Surface temperature (ocean)Sea surface temperature
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
Earth Radiation Budget click here click here NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Monthl...
NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Daily ...
Land Surface Temperature click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Ozone click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Surface Temperature click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Temperature (upper-air) click here click here WVT_ATOVS 1
WVT_ATOVS 1
Water Vapour (upper air) click here click here WVT_ATOVS 1
WVT_ATOVS 1
WVT_ATOVS 1
NVAP_WEATHER_TPW Version: 1
NVAP_WEATHER_LPW Version: 1
find more ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
NOAA-15 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 15 (1998 - 2018)
NOAA-16 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 16 (2000 - 2014)
NOAA-17 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 17 (2002 - 2013)