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 observing technique (atmospheric features tracking, lidar, line broadening);
• the orbit (GEO or LEO).

RATING CRITERIA:

1

• Doppler lidar

2

• Hyperspectral sounder in GEO
• Imager in GEO or Molniya with channels in VIS and TIR at 6-8, 10-13 and 13.3 mm

3

• Imager in GEO or Molniya with channels in VIS and TIR at 6-8 and 10-13 mm
• Hyperspectral sounder in LEO

4

• TIR imager in LEO with channels at 6-8 and 10-13 mm
• Imager in GEO with channels in VIS and TIR at 10-13 mm
• High-spatial-reolution multi-angle VIS radiometer in LEO
• Very-high spectral resolution limb sounding spectrometer for O2 lines in the VIS and NIR ranges

5

• VIS imager in GEO
• TIR imager at 10-13 mm in LEO