The imager detects different wavelengths of energy through different channels. This allows the imager to capture visible light, emitted long wave radiation and other radiation wavelengths. The imager has five "channels" which monitor radiation at a specific wavelength per given channel. Channel and product descriptions are given below:

0.52 - 0.72 micrometers (visible) - at 1 km, useful for cloud, pollution, and haze detection and severe storm identification.

3.78 - 4.03 micrometers (short wave infrared window) - at 4 km, useful for identifying fog at night, discriminating between water clouds and snow or ice crystal clouds, detecting fires and volcanoes, and determining sea surface temperatures.

6.47 - 7.02 micrometers (upper level water vapor) - at 4 km, useful for estimating regions of mid-level moisture content and advection plus tracking mid-level atmospheric motions.

10.2 - 11.2 micrometers (long wave infrared window) - at 4 km, familiar to most users for cloud-drift winds, severe storm identification, and location of heavy rainfall.

11.5 - 12.5 micrometers (infrared window more sensitive to water vapor) - at 4 km, useful for identification of low-level moisture, determination of sea surface temperature, and detection of airborne dust and volcanic ash.

Selected text provided by: Space Science and Engineering Center (UW Madison).

imager

Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available. Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010. Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

sounder