Abstract
The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) is one of the mission-critical instruments onboard the Suomi NPP polar-orbiting weather satellite, as well as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). The CrIS instrument collects hyperspectral infrared radiance data from the earth, which is used for precise measurements of vertical distributions of temperature, moisture, and pressure within the earth’s atmosphere. The CrIS instrument is an interferometric infrared sounder covering the spectral range from 3.9 to 15.4 microns, with a ground spatial resolution of 14 km at nadir.
This year, the first CrIS instrument flying on NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite will complete five years of on-orbit operations. The second CrIS instrument will be launched onboard the JPSS-1 satellite in early 2017. Three other CrIS instruments are currently in production for JPSS-2 through JPSS-4.
This paper will focus on the radiometric performance of the CrIS instrument for JPSS-1, including its measured NEdN performance, radiometric uncertainty performance utilizing a new and improved Internal Calibration Target, short-term and long-term repeatability, spectral uncertainty, and spectral stability. Recent tests to confirm the calibration of the primary CrIS ground calibration target using the NIST TXR will also be discussed. In addition, the full-resolution operating modes for CrIS-JPSS1 will be reviewed, including a discussion of how these modes will be used during on-orbit characterization tests. We will also provide a brief update of CrIS-SNPP on-obit performance, as well as the production status of the next several CrIS instruments for JPSS-2 through JPSS-4.
Radiometric Performance of the CrIS Instrument for JPSS-1
The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) is one of the mission-critical instruments onboard the Suomi NPP polar-orbiting weather satellite, as well as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). The CrIS instrument collects hyperspectral infrared radiance data from the earth, which is used for precise measurements of vertical distributions of temperature, moisture, and pressure within the earth’s atmosphere. The CrIS instrument is an interferometric infrared sounder covering the spectral range from 3.9 to 15.4 microns, with a ground spatial resolution of 14 km at nadir.
This year, the first CrIS instrument flying on NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite will complete five years of on-orbit operations. The second CrIS instrument will be launched onboard the JPSS-1 satellite in early 2017. Three other CrIS instruments are currently in production for JPSS-2 through JPSS-4.
This paper will focus on the radiometric performance of the CrIS instrument for JPSS-1, including its measured NEdN performance, radiometric uncertainty performance utilizing a new and improved Internal Calibration Target, short-term and long-term repeatability, spectral uncertainty, and spectral stability. Recent tests to confirm the calibration of the primary CrIS ground calibration target using the NIST TXR will also be discussed. In addition, the full-resolution operating modes for CrIS-JPSS1 will be reviewed, including a discussion of how these modes will be used during on-orbit characterization tests. We will also provide a brief update of CrIS-SNPP on-obit performance, as well as the production status of the next several CrIS instruments for JPSS-2 through JPSS-4.