OSCAR

Each instrument is assigned with a 5-step rating, evaluated as a blend of several elements such as the uncertainty, the vertical resolution, and the frequency and spatial resolution of the retrieved measurement in comparison with the space-time variability of the geophysical parameter.  For this particular Variable, the rating is driven by:

• the spectral intervals and the channel bandwidth;
• the multi-viewing and multi-polarisation capability:
• the observing technique (radiometry or lidar).

RATING CRITERIA:

1

• Multi-channel multi-viewing multi-polarisation SW radiometer
• Multi-channel multi-viewing SW radiometer
• TIR radiometer in GEO or Moniya

2

• Backscatter lidar or Doppler lidar
• SW spectrometer
• Hyperspectral narrow-swath SW radiometer in GEO
• Multi-channel SW radiometer missing 760 nm in GEO or Molniya or L1

3

• Lidar altimeter
• Multi-channel SW radiometer including 760 nm

4

• Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL)
• Hyperspectral narrow-swath SW radiometer
• Multi-channel SW radiometer missing 760 nm in GEO or Molniya

5

• Multi-channel SW radiometer missing 760 nm