Measurements and Applications
Surface and cloud imaging with high spatial resolution, stereoscopic observation of local topography, cloud heights, volcanic plumes, and generation of local surface digital elevation maps. Surface temperature and emissivity. ASTER SWIR detectors are no longer functioning due to anomalously high SWIR detector temperatures. ASTER SWIR data acquired since April 2008 are not useable, and show saturation of values and severe striping. All attempts to bring the SWIR bands back to life have failed, and no further action is envisioned.
Full Name
Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer
Status
Operational
Instrument Agencies
Maturity
Instrument Type
High resolution optical imagers 
Geometry
Instrument Technology
High resolution optical imager
Sampling
Imaging
Data Access
Open Access
Data Format
HDF-EOS or GeoTiff
Resolution
VNIR: 15 m, stereo: 15 m horizontally and 25 m vertical, SWIR: 30 m, TIR: 90 m
[Best Resolution: 15m]
Swath
60 km
[Max Swath: 60 km]
Accuracy
VNIR and SWIR: 4% (absolute), TIR: 4 K, Geolocation: 7 m
Waveband
VIS and NIR: 3 bands in 0.52 - 0.86 µm, SWIR: 6 bands in 1.6 - 2.43 µm, TIR: 5 bands in 8.125 - 11.65 µm
| VIS (~0.40 µm - ~0.75 µm) |
| NIR (~0.75 µm - ~1.3 µm) |
| SWIR (~1.3 µm - ~3.0 µm) |
| TIR (~6.0 µm - ~15.0 µm) |
Terra - Terra (formerly EOS AM-1) (1999 - 2027) |