CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - HIRS/4 -
Full Name High Resolution Infra-red Sounder/4 Status Operational
Instrument Agencies EUMETSAT, NOAA Maturity High Heritage - Operational
Instrument Type Atmospheric temperature and humidity sounders Geometry Cross-track scanning
Instrument Technology Narrow-band channel IR radiometer Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format Native
Measurements and Applications Atmospheric temperature profiles and data on cloud parameters, humidity soundings, water vapour, total ozone content, and surface temperatures. Same as HIRS/3, with 10 km IFOV.
Resolution Summary 20.3 km
[Best Resolution: 20300m]
Swath Summary 2240 km
[Max Swath: 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)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (LT, HT, TC)
Atmospheric Temperature FieldsAtmospheric temperature (LT, HT, LS, TC)
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
WVT_ATOVS 1
Instrument Missions
NOAA-18 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 18 (2005 - 2025)
Metop-A - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - A (2006 - 2021)
NOAA-19 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 19 (2009 - 2024)
Metop-B - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - B (2012 - 2027)