CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - AIRS -
Full Name Atmospheric Infra-red Sounder Status Operational
Instrument Agencies NASA Maturity
Instrument Type Atmospheric temperature and humidity sounders Geometry Cross-track scanning
Instrument Technology Medium-resolution IR spectrometer Sampling Sounding
Data Access Open Access Data Format HDF-EOS
Measurements and Applications High spectral resolution measurement of temperature and humidity profiles in the atmosphere. Long-wave Earth surface emissivity. Cloud diagnostics. Trace gas profiles. Surface temperatures.
Resolution Summary 1.1 degree (13 x 13 km at nadir)
[Best Resolution: 13000m]
Swath Summary +/-48.95 degrees
[Max Swath: 1650 km]
Accuracy Summary Humidity: 20%, Temperature: 1 K
Waveband Summary VIS - TIR: 0.4 - 1.7 µm, 3.4 - 15.4 µm, Has approximately 2382 bands from VIS to TIR
VIS (~0.40 µm - ~0.75 µm)
NIR (~0.75 µm - ~1.3 µm)
MWIR (~3.0 µm - ~6.0 µm)
TIR (~6.0 µm - ~15.0 µm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (LT, HT, LS, HS&M, TC)
Atmospheric Temperature FieldsAtmospheric temperature (LT, HT, LS, HS&M)
Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperatureCloud cover
Cloud top height
Cloud top temperature
Liquid water and precipitation ratePrecipitation index (daily cumulative)
OzoneO3 Mole Fraction
Radiation budgetShort-wave cloud reflectance
Downward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface
Short-wave Earth surface bi-directional reflectance
Upwelling (Outgoing) long-wave radiation at Earth surface
Long-wave Earth surface emissivity
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow cover
Surface temperature (land)Land surface temperature
Surface temperature (ocean)Sea surface temperature
Trace gases (excluding ozone)CH4 Mole Fraction
CO2 Mole Fraction
CO 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 AIRSM_CPR_MAT_3.2
Record ID: 11371
Record ID: 11370
Record ID: 11369
Record ID: 11368
find more ECV Inventory records
Cloud Properties click here click here Record ID: 11341
Record ID: 11340
Record ID: 11339
Record ID: 11338
Record ID: 11337
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Earth Radiation Budget click here click here Record ID: 11353
Record ID: 11352
Record ID: 11351
Record ID: 11350
Record ID: 11349
find more ECV Inventory records
Land Surface Temperature click here click here Record ID: 11365
Record ID: 11364
Record ID: 11363
Record ID: 11362
Record ID: 11361
find more ECV Inventory records
Ozone click here click here Record ID: 11305
Record ID: 11304
Record ID: 11303
Record ID: 11302
Record ID: 11301
find more ECV Inventory records
Precursors (supporting the Aerosol and Ozone ECVs) click here click here AIRSM_CPR_MAT_3.2
Record ID: 11311
Record ID: 11310
Record ID: 11309
Record ID: 11308
find more ECV Inventory records
Sea Ice click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Surface Temperature click here click here Record ID: 11359
Record ID: 11358
Record ID: 11357
Record ID: 11356
Record ID: 11355
find more ECV Inventory records
Snow click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Temperature (upper-air) click here click here Record ID: 11323
Record ID: 11322
Record ID: 11321
Record ID: 11320
Record ID: 11319
find more ECV Inventory records
Water Vapour (upper air) click here click here Record ID: 11293
Record ID: 11292
Record ID: 11291
Record ID: 11290
Record ID: 11289
find more ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
Aqua - Aqua (formerly EOS PM-1) (2002 - 2026)