CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - IASI -
Full Name Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer Status Operational
Instrument Agencies EUMETSAT, CNES Maturity
Instrument Type Atmospheric temperature and humidity sounders and Atmospheric chemistry Geometry Cross-track scanning
Instrument Technology Medium-resolution IR spectrometer Sampling Sounding
Data Access Open Access Data Format Native and BUFR
Measurements and Applications Measures tropospheric moisture and temperature, column integrated contents of ozone, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other minor gases which affect tropospheric chemistry. Also measures sea surface and land temperature.
Resolution Summary Vertical: 1 - 30 km, Horizontal: 25 km
[Best Resolution: 25000m]
Swath Summary 2052 km
[Max Swath: 2052 km]
Accuracy Summary Temperature: 0.5 - 2 K, specific humidity: 0.1 - 0.3 g/kg, ozone, trace gas profile: 10%
Waveband Summary MWIR - TIR: 645 to 2760 cm-1 or 3.62 - 15.5 µm (8461 spectral samples)
MWIR (~3.0 µm - ~6.0 µm)
TIR (~6.0 µm - ~15.0 µm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
AerosolsVolcanic ash
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (LT, HT, LS, HS&M, TC)
Atmospheric Temperature FieldsAtmospheric temperature (LT, HT, LS, HS&M)
Atmospheric stability index
Atmospheric WindsWind profile (vertical)
Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperatureCloud cover
Cloud top height
Cloud top temperature
OzoneO3 Mole Fraction
Radiation budgetLong-wave Earth surface emissivity
Upwelling (Outgoing) spectral radiance at TOA
Surface temperature (land)Land surface temperature
Surface temperature (ocean)Sea surface temperature
Trace gases (excluding ozone)CH4 Mole Fraction
N2O (TC)
HNO3 (LT, HT, LS, TC)
CO2 Total Column
CO Total Column
SO2 Total Column
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 Height-resolved dry-air mole fraction of...
Record ID: 11016
Height-resolved dry-air mole fraction of...
Column-averaged dry-air mole fraction of...
Cloud Properties click here click here search ECV Inventory records
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 Record ID: 11920
Record ID: 11919
Water Vapour (upper air) click here click here Record ID: 11921
Instrument Missions
Metop-A - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - A (2006 - 2021)
Metop-B - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - B (2012 - 2027)
Metop-C - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - C (2018 - 2027)