Remote Instrumentation used to Study Aerosols

There are many different types of instruments currently orbiting Earth that measure the optical depth, or other characteristics, of aerosols directly, quantify precursor gases, or detect sources of aerosols (such as fires or volcanic eruptions). Below is a list of sensors relevant to aerosol research, and the current or planned satellite platforms that carry them. Follow links to obtain details on the sensors and the data they provide.

I. Thermal Infrared Radiometers

AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) on NOAA-7, -9, -11, -14, -L and Metop 1 satellites Meteosat (European meteorological satellite) MODIS on NASA's Terra & Aqua
(MODIS detects fire locations via increases in the thermal infrared brightness temperature of the surface, and detects dust via decreases in the thermal infrared brightness temperature of the surface)
SPOT (can detect presence of fire) VIRS on TRMM (can detect presence of fire) ATSR-2 (Along Track Scanning Radiometer) on ERS-2 satellite (Europe) SABER ("limb sounder" multispectral radiometer, 10 channel infrared,
detects gases produced by fires: Ox, HOx, CO2, NOx, OH)

II. Ultraviolet Scanning Monochromators (TOMS)

The Total Ozone Mapping Spectrophotometer (TOMS) was designed to produce accurate global estimates of total column ozone. It can also detect SO2 (gas), H2SO4 (sulfate) aerosols in the stratosphere, and UV absorbing aerosols (smoke, dust) over land and ocean. TOMS instruments have been carried on four satellites: 1. Nimbus-7 (1979 to 1993) 2. Meteor-3 (1991 to 1994) 3. ADEOS (1996 to 1997) 4. Earth Probe TOMS (Launched 1996)

III. Multispectral Radiometers

MODIS on NASA's Terra & Aqua satellites

IV. Spectrometers with Multiple Observation Angles

MISR on NASA's Terra & Aqua satellites (detects size distribution of aerosols) POLDER (on ADEOS-not launched yet)

V. Solar Occultation

HALOE on UARS (NASA ESE)
HALOE measures vertical profiles of Ozone (O3), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Hydrogen Fluoride(HF), Methane (CH4), Water (H2O), Nitric Oxide (NO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Aerosol Extinction, Aerosol Surface and Temperature versus pressure with an instantaneous field of view of 1.6 km at the earth limb.
SAGE II on ERBS (NASA, 1984-1990) SAGE III on Meteor 3M-1 (Russian)
SAGE III retrieves vertical profiles of ozone, H2O, NO2, NO3, OClO, and aerosols in the upper troposphere and in the stratosphere.
  VI. Gas Filter Radiometer
MAPS (Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellite) carried on satellite and space shuttle)
MAPS monitors carbon monoxide (CO) in the troposphere. CO is a product of biomass burning, and the largest consumer of OH radical. OH radicals are important oxidizers of aerosol precursor gases, thus processes affecting CO concentrations in air can also affect aerosol production rates.
VII. Interferometers (radiation in wavelengths from 2.5 to 16 micrometers) VIII. Sun photometers
SAGE II on ERBS (NASA, 1984-1990: 7 channels: 1020, 940, 600, 525, 453, 448, and 385 nm) SAGE III on Meteor 3M-1 (Russian)
IX. Lidars
LITE (carried on the space shuttle) PICASSO-CENA (US/France)