CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - UVNS (Sentinel-5) -
Full Name Ultra-violet Visible Near-infrared Shortwave-infrared spectrometer Status Being developed
Instrument Agencies ESA, EUMETSAT, COM Maturity
Instrument Type Atmospheric chemistry Geometry Push-broom scanning
Instrument Technology High-resolution nadir-scanning SW spectrometer Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format NetCDF-4
Measurements and Applications Supporting atmospheric composition and air quality monitoring services. Measurements of atmospheric trace gases, primarily O3, NO2, SO2, HCHO, CH4 and CO.
Resolution Summary 7.5 km at SSP for wavelengths > 300 nm, 45 km for wavelengths < 300 nm
[Best Resolution: 7500m]
Swath Summary Daily global coverage
[Max Swath: 2670 km]
Accuracy Summary TBD
Waveband Summary UV-1: 270 – 310 nm, UV-2-VIS: 300 - 500 nm, NIR: 710 nm & 755 – 773 nm , SWIR-1: 1590 - 1675 nm SWIR-3: 2305 - 2385 nm
UV (~0.01 µm - ~0.40 µm)
VIS (~0.40 µm - ~0.75 µm)
NIR (~0.75 µm - ~1.3 µm)
SWIR (~1.3 µm - ~3.0 µm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
AerosolsAerosol optical depth (column/profile)
Volcanic ash
Aerosol Layer Height
Albedo and reflectanceEarth surface albedo
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (TC)
Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperatureCloud cover
Cloud top height
OzoneO3 Mole Fraction
Radiation budgetDownward short-wave irradiance at Earth surface
Trace gases (excluding ozone)CH4 Mole Fraction
CO Mole Fraction
NO2 Mole Fraction
BrO (TC)
SO2 Mole Fraction
HCHO Mole Fraction
CHOCHO (TC)
OClO (TC)
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Aerosols properties click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Albedo click here click here search ECV Inventory records
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 search ECV Inventory records
Ozone click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Precursors (supporting the Aerosol and Ozone ECVs) click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Water Vapour (upper air) click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
METOP-SG A1 - EUMETSAT Polar System, Second Generation (2025 - 2032)
Sentinel-5 A - Sentinel-5 A (2025 - 2032)
Sentinel-5 B - Sentinel-5 B (2032 - 2039)
METOP-SG A2 - EUMETSAT Polar System, Second Generation (2032 - 2039)
METOP-SG A3 - EUMETSAT Polar System, Second Generation (2039 - 2046)
Sentinel-5 C - Sentinel-5 C (2039 - 2046)