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Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite

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Earth at night as imaged by VIIRS

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a sensor designed and manufactured by the Raytheon Company on board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) weather satellite.[1] VIIRS is one of five key instruments associated with the Suomi NPP that was launched on October 28, 2011.[2] VIIRS is a whiskbroom scanning radiometer[3] that collects imagery and radiometric measurements of the land, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans in the visible and infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.[4] VIIRS imaging optics include a 19.1 cm aperture and a 114 cm focal length. The orbit average power for VIIRS is 200 watts, and it weighs 275 kg.[5]

VIIRS is capable of generating two data processing streams that result in two different sets of land products. One is produced by NOAA, and provides operational data for use by the National Weather Service. These are known as environmental data records (EDRs). The other stream is from NASA, and is intended to contribute to the larger scientific community. These are known as Earth System Data Records (ESDRs).[6]

Mission overview

VIIRS was launched on board Suomi NPP by a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:48 am EDT on 28 Oct, 2011.[7] VIIRS was designed to expand upon the data collected by the aging MODIS and AVHRR sensors by collecting radiometric measurements of Earth in the visible and infrared spectra. This data is used to provide insight into the properties and dynamics of different geophysical phenomena, including: aerosol and cloud properties, sea, land and ice surface temperatures, ice motion, fires, and the albedo of Earth. This information is useful in furthering our understanding of global climate change.[5]

References

  1. ^ http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/viirs/
  2. ^ "VIIRS Land". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. January 5, 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. ^ Cao, Changyong (10 September 2013). "NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142" (PDF). NOAA. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) | http://npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/viirs.html
  5. ^ a b "Polar Orbiting Missions". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  6. ^ "VIIRS Land". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ ": Polar Orbiting Missions :". jointmission.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
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