Earth Surface Albedo Measurement Instruments

Measurements > Land > Albedo and reflectance > Earth surface albedo
Measurement Definition: Hemispherically integrated reflectance of the Earth’s surface in the range 0.4-0.7 µm (or other specific short-wave ranges) - Physical unit: [ % ] - Accuracy unit: [ % ].

Thematic Links
InstrumentStatus/
Accuracy
Instrument DescriptionMeasurement TechnologyTimeline
AGRIOperationalA multiple channel radiation imager, one of the primary instruments aboard FY-4. Technically featured by a precisely designed two-mirror structure, capable of accurate and flexible sensing in two dimensions, and minute-level fast sector scanning. Frequent Earth imaging over 14 bands with off-axis three reflections of the primary optic system. On-board black body available for IR calibrations at very short time intervals.n/a
AMIOperationalContinuous 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
ASTEROperationalSurface 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.n/a
AVHRR/3OperationalMeasurements 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
AWiFSOperationalVegetation and crop monitoring, resource assessment (regional scale), forest mapping, land cover/ land use mapping, and change detection.n/a
CZIOperationalImagery of coastal regions - estuaries, tidal regions, etc.n/a
Geoton-L1 (2)OperationalMultispectral images of land surfaces and Oceans.n/a
HSIOperationalDetailed monitoring and characterization of rock and soil targets, vegetation, inland and coastal waters on a global scale.n/a
HSI-2 (HJ-2A)OperationalHyperspectral measurements for environment and disaster management operations.n/a
HYCOperationalHyperspectral data for complex land ecosystem studies.n/a
IRMSS-2 (HJ-2)OperationalInfrared measurements for environment and natural disaster monitoring.n/a
IRSOperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.n/a
KMSSOperationalMultispectral images of land & sea surfaces and ice cover.n/a
KShMSA-VROperationalLand surface and ocean monitoringn/a
LISS-III (Resourcesat)OperationalData used for vegetation type assessment, resource assessment, crop stress detection, crop production forecasting, forestry, land use and land cover change.n/a
LISS-IVOperationalVegetation monitoring, improved crop discrimination, crop yield, disaster monitoring and rapid assessment of natural resources.n/a
MBEIOperationalMultispectral scanner images of land surface.n/a
MIRSOperationalScanner images of land surface in middle infra-red range.n/a
MISROperationalMeasurements 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.n/a
MODISOperationalData 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
MSOperationalVegetation and land cover, land cover change.n/a
MSI (BJ-2)OperationalSSTL-300 S1 Imager also known as VHRI 100 (Very High Resolution Imager 100).n/a
MSI (Sentinel-2)OperationalOptical high spatial resolution imagery over land and coastal areas for Copernicus operational services.n/a
MSSOperationalMultispectral images of land & sea surfaces and ice cover.n/a
MSU-MROperationalParameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection.n/a
MUX (CBERS-4)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementn/a
MUX (CBERS-4A)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementn/a
MUX (GF-1)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.n/a
MUX (GF-2)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.n/a
MUX (ZY-3-02)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.n/a
MVIRSOperationalMeasures surface temperature and cloud and ice cover. Used for snow and flood monitoring and surface temperature.n/a
NigeriaSat 2 Remote Sensing (Med and High Res)OperationalHigh resolution images for monitoring of land surface and coastal processes and for agricultural, geological and hydrological applications.n/a
NigeriaSat X Remote Sensing (Medium Resolution)OperationalHigh resolution images for monitoring of land surface and coastal processes and for agricultural, geological and hydrological applications.n/a
OCIOperationalOcean color slit-grating imaging spectrometer/radiometer for measuring top of atmosphere reflectance which is used to estimate ocean leaving light that contains information on biological components plus aerosol and cloud propertiesln/a
OLCIOperationalMarine and land services.n/a
OLIOperationalMeasures surface radiance, land cover state, and change (e.g., vegetation type). Used as multi-purpose imagery for land applications.n/a
OLI-2OperationalMeasures surface radiance, land cover state, and change (e.g., vegetation type). Used as multi-purpose imagery for land applications.n/a
PALSAR-2OperationalDisaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry.n/a
PAN (BJ-2)OperationalSSTL-300 S1 Imager also known as VHRI 100 (Very High Resolution Imager 100).n/a
PAN (Cartosat-2A/2B)OperationalHigh resolution stereo images for large scale (better than 1:0000) mapping applications, urban applications, GIS ingest.n/a
PAN (Cartosat-2E)OperationalHigh resolution stereo images for large scale (better than 1:0000) mapping applications, urban applications, GIS ingest.n/a
PAN (Cartosat-3)OperationalHigh resolution images for study of topography, urban areas, development of DTM, run-off models etc. Urban sprawl, forest cover/timber volume, land use change.n/a
PAN (CBERS-4)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementn/a
PSSOperationalPanchromatic data for environmental monitoring, agriculture and forestry.n/a
SAR (RADARSAT-2)OperationalAll-weather images of ocean, ice and land surfaces. Used for monitoring of coastal zones, polar ice, sea ice, sea state, geological features, vegetation and land surface processes.n/a
SAR (RCM)OperationalAll-weather, C-band data to support ecosystem monitoring, maritime surveillance and disaster management.n/a
SGLIOperationalMedium resolution multi-spectral imaging of land, ocean and atmosphere. SGLI-VNR is an optical sensor capable of multi-channel nadir observation at wavelengths from near-UV to NIR and forward or backward polarization observation at red and near infrared wavelengths (Push-broom scanning). SGLI-IRS is an optical sensor capable of multi-channel nadir observation at wavelengths from SWIR to TIR wavelengths (Cross-track scanning).n/a
SLIM-6-22OperationalVisible and NIR imagery in support of disaster management - part of the Disaster Management constellation.n/a
TIRSOperationalMeasures longwave thermal infrared surface emittance, land cover state, and change. Used as multipurpose imagery for land applications.n/a
TIRS-2OperationalMeasures longwave thermal infrared surface emittance, land cover state, and change. Used as multipurpose imagery for land applications. TIRS-2 will adhere to the Landsat 8 TIRS instrument performance specifications but will be built to NASA Class-B instrument standards (including a 5-year design life).n/a
VIIRSOperationalGlobal observations of land, ocean, and atmosphere parameters: cloud/weather imagery, sea-surface temperature, ocean colour, land surface vegetation indices.n/a
VIRROperationalMultispectral Visible and Infra-red Scan Radiometer.n/a
VISSR-2OperationalMeteorological.n/a
WFI (Amazonia-1)OperationalUsed for fire extent detection measurement, coastal and vegetation monitoring, land cover and land use mapping. WFI (Amazonia-1) is the same instrument as WFI (CBERS), however due to differences in orbital altitude, they have different spatial resolutionn/a
WFI (CBERS-4)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use. WFI (Amazonia-1) is the same instrument as WFI (CBERS), however due to differences in orbital altitude, they have different spatial resolutions.n/a
WFI (CBERS-4A)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementn/a
WPMOperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementn/a
WSAROperationalHigh resolution radar measurements of land and ocean features.n/a
WVC-2OperationalMultispectral measurements of Earth's surface for natural enviroment and disaster applications.n/a
X-Band SAROperationalHigh resolution images for monitoring of land surface and coastal processes and for agricultural, geological and hydrological applications.n/a
APANBeing developedHigh-resolution images for the study of topography, urban areas, development of DTM, run-off models etc., urban sprawl, forest cover/timber volume, land use change.n/a
HYC2Being developedHyperspectral data for complex land ecosystem studies.n/a
LISS-VBeing developedVegetation monitoring, improved crop discrimination, crop yield, disaster monitoring and rapid assessment of natural resources.n/a
PALSAR-3Being developedDisaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry.n/a
UVNS (Sentinel-5)Being developedSupporting atmospheric composition and air quality monitoring services. Measurements of atmospheric trace gases, primarily O3, NO2, SO2, HCHO, CH4, CO, CHOCHO as well as Aerosols and UV Index.High-resolution nadir-scanning SW spectrometer
OEK VRApprovedMultispectral images of land surfaces and Oceans.n/a
Advanced KMSSProposedMultispectral images of land & sea surfaces and ice cover.n/a
Advanced MSU-MRProposedParameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection.n/a
LandISProposedMeasures surface radiance, land cover state and change (e.g., vegetation type), and longwave termal infrared surface emittance. Used as multi-purpose imagery for land applications.n/a
L-Band SARProposedGlobal observation of dynamic processes in the bio-, cryo-, geo- and hydrosphere.n/a
SWIRNo longer considered n/a