EarthCARE instrument overview
The satellite payload consists of four instruments:
The Atmospheric Lidar (ATLID) provides vertical profiles of aerosols and thin clouds. It operates at a wavelength of 355nm and has a high-spectral resolution receiver and depolarisation channel.
The Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) provides vertical profiles measurements of clouds and has the capability to observe vertical velocities of cloud particles through Doppler measurements. It operates at 94GHz.
The Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) provides across-track information on clouds and aerosols with channels in the visible, near infrared, shortwave- and thermal infrared.
The Broad-Band Radiometer (BBR) provides measurements of top-of-the-atmosphere radiances and fluxes. It has one short-wave and one long-wave channel with three fixed viewing directions pointing in fore-, nadir and aft-directions.
More information
EarthCARE instruments facsheet
Last update: 19 February 2013
- EarthCARE Mission Requirements Document (2006)
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EarthObservation/EarthCARE_MRD_v5.pdf - EarthCARE Report for Selection (2004)
SP-1279/1
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/SP_1279_1_EarthCARE.pdf - EarthCARE Technical Annex (2004)
SP-1279/1
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EEUCM/EarthCARE_TPA.pdf - EarthCARE Report for Assessment (2001)
SP-1257/1
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/sp_1257_1_earthcaresc.pdf - JAXA
http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html - NICT
http://www.nict.go.jp/overview/index.html - EarthCARE instruments factsheet
http://download.esa.int/docs/EarthObservation/EarthCARE_instrument_factsheet.pdf