Abstract

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is a high spectral resolution nadir sounder scheduled to fly on EOS-A.¹ AIRS primary goal is temperature and humidity sounding, although a large number of other products will be derived from AIRS radiances. The instrument is based on a grating spectrometer that operates from 650 to 3000 cm^–1 with a resolving power of 1200. This results in a spectral resolution ranging from 2.5 cm^–1 at 3000 cm^–1 to almost 0.05 cm^–1 at 650 cm^–1. Instrument noise equivalent temperatures on the order of 0.25K or better are expected.

© 1991 Optical Society of America