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The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment: Science and implementation
Author(s) -
Barkstrom Bruce R.,
Smith G. Louis
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg024i002p00379
Subject(s) - radiometer , remote sensing , shortwave , spacecraft , satellite , environmental science , meteorology , earth observation , radiometry , physics , geology , radiative transfer , astronomy , optics
This paper gives an overview of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment. The experiment consists of scanning and nonscanning radiometer packages on three spacecraft. One is a satellite with a 57° inclination orbit which processes around the earth once every 2 months. Packages are also flown on the sun‐synchronous NOAA‐F and NOAA‐G operational meteorological satellites. The scanning radiometer includes three channels: shortwave, long‐wave, and total. The nonscanner package encompasses a pair of wide‐field‐of‐view radiometers and a pair of medium‐field‐of‐view radiometers. Each pair consists of a total and a shortwave radiometer. The scientific importance and objectives of the mission are described, including the need for the three spacecraft and the utility of the complementary types of radiometers.