Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

Definition

The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is a broad-band, four or five channel (depending on the model) scanner, sensing in the visible, near-infrared and thermal infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This sensor has been a payload on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) polar-orbiting satellites since 1978, with a primary purpose of providing data in global area coverage (GAC) form.

It's a type of imaging instrument used aboard satellites, providing day and night observation of land, water, and cloud surfaces on a global scale. The data obtained from AVHRR is primarily used for weather forecasting, climate research, environmental monitoring, and other related applications.

What is Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer?

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer refers to a series of multichannel scanning radiometers mounted on NOAA polar orbiting satellites. These sensors collect remote sensing data of the Earth in several spectral bands, and at a fairly high spatial resolution, given that their typical altitude is approximately 830 km above the Earth's surface.

AVHRR instruments are capable of providing global coverage twice a day, as they follow a sun-synchronous orbit. They measure the reflectance of the Earth in five spectral bands that include visible light, near-infrared, and thermal infrared. This range of measurements is critical for numerous APS including tracking vegetation growth, ice and snow cover, clouds and fog, and monitoring the surface temperature of the land and sea.

FAQs

What kind of data is collected by AVHRR?

AVHRR collects remote sensing data of the Earth in five spectral bands. The data collected includes visible light, near-infrared, and thermal infrared. This data is used for weather forecasting, climate research, and environmental monitoring.

How often does AVHRR provide coverage of the Earth?

AVHRR is mounted on satellites in sun-synchronous orbit, which provides global coverage twice a day. This allows for consistent and frequent data collection, essential for weather forecasting and climate research.

Why is the data from AVHRR important?

The data collected by AVHRR is important for a variety of reasons. It helps in tracking vegetation growth, ice and snow cover, ocean color observations, volcanic plume monitoring and fire detection. This data can give scientists important insight into climate patterns, and help them predict and understand natural disasters.

How does AVHRR measure the temperature of the land and sea?

AVHRR measures the temperature of the land and sea using thermal infrared. Emitted radiation in this band is proportional to surface temperature, and thus enables accurate temperature readings. This information can be crucial for weather forecasting, studying climate changes, and for various environmental monitoring applications.