AVHRR data from Eurimage

TIROS / AVHRR Technical

Summary

Orbit Launch Altitude Inclination 1979 840 km 98.7=B0- 98.9=B0 Sensors band (=B5m) 1 2 3 4 5 AVHRR/1 .55-.90 .72-1.0 3.55-3.93 10.5-11.5 GSD (m) 1000 1000 1000 1000 AVHRR/2 .58-.68 .72-1.0 3.55-3.93 10.3-11.3 11.5-12.5 GSD (m) 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 Scene size (km) Revisit interval 3000 x 6000 2/day at equator, 4/day at mid-latitudes GSD (m) 120 TIROS / AVHRR Orbit The TIROS satellites have a circular, polar, sun-synchronous orbit, with an altitude of approximately 840 km and an inclination of 98.7=B0 to 98.9=B0.

NOAA maintain at least two operational satellites in complementary orbits, with one crossing the equator at local solar times of approximately 0730 and 1930, and the other at 0230 and 1430. By convention, the even-numbered satellites cover the 'morning orbit' (0730) and the odd-numbered satellites the 'afternoon orbit' (1430). The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer is a four (AVHRR/1) or five (AVHRR/2) channel passive scanning radiometer.

It has one visible channel, one near-infrared, one middle-infrared, and one/two far-infrared channels. The nominal ground resolution is about 1 km. The extra channel of the AVHRR/2 (Channel 5) affords improved atmospheric correction of sea and land surface temperatures.