| Instrument | Status/
Accuracy | Instrument Description | Measurement Technology | Timeline |
| ACDL | Operational | For CO2 a pulsed dual-wavelength lidar alternately emits two pulsed lasers near 1572 nm in a sequential manner one in the CO2 absorption line and one off the line. For aerosol detection a high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) at 532 and 1064 nm. | Atmospheric lidar |  |
| AMI | Operational | Continuous monitoring capability for the near real-time generation of high-resolution meteorological products and long-term change analysis of land/sea surface temperature and cloud coverage. | n/a | |
| AVHRR/3 | Operational | Measurements of land and sea surface temperature, cloud cover, snow and ice cover, soil moisture and vegetation indices. Data also used for volcanic eruption monitoring. | n/a | |
| DPC-2 | Operational | To measure aerosol and cloud microphysical parameters and the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) | n/a | |
| HARP2 | Operational | Polarimeter for measuring aerosol optical properties, clouds and aerosol types. | Multi-channel/direction/polarisation radiometer | |
| MISR | Operational | Measurements of global surface albedo, aerosol and vegetation properties. Also provides multi-angle bidirectional data (1% angle-to-angle accuracy) for cloud cover and reflectances at the surface and aerosol opacities. Global and local modes. | Multi-channel/direction/polarisation radiometer | |
| MODIS | Operational | Data on biological and physical processes on the surface of the Earth and in the lower atmosphere, and on global dynamics. Surface temperatures of land and ocean, chlorophyll fluorescence, land cover measurements, cloud cover (day and night). | n/a | |
| MSU-MR | Operational | Parameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection. | n/a | |
| OLCI | Operational | Marine and land services. | n/a | |
| Sounder | Operational | Atmospheric soundings and data on atmospheric stability and thermal gradient winds. | n/a | |
| SPEXone | Operational | Polarimeter for measuring aerosol optical properties, clouds and aerosol types. Multi-angle spectro-polarimetry by spectral modulation technology. Distribution and detailed micro-phyiscal properties of atmospheric aerosol. Direct and indirect aerosol radiative forcing and their impact on climate. A second instance of this instrument is in development. | Multi-channel/direction/polarisation radiometer | |
| ACX | Being developed | | n/a | |
| MSI (EarthCARE) | Approved | Observation of cloud properties and aerosol (aerosols to be confirmed). | n/a | |
| Advanced MSU-MR | Proposed | Parameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection. | n/a | |