BackForwardInstrument:  MLS  

Instrument details
Acronym MLS
Full name Microwave Limb Sounder
Purpose Chemistry of the high atmosphere.  Tracked species: ClO, H2O, H2O2 and O3.
Short description 3 bands / 6 sub-bands: 63 GHz, 183 GHz (2 sub-band) and 205 GHz (3 sub-band).
Background New development
Scanning Technique Limb scanning
Resolution Vertical: 4 km, in the altitude range 5-85 km.  Horizontal effective resolution: ~ 300 km (limb geometry)
Coverage / Cycle Global coverage every 3 d for cells of 300 km side
Mass 280 kg Power 163 W Data Rate 1.25 kbps

 

Providing Agency NASA
Instrument Maturity Flown on an R&D satellite
Utilization Period: 1991 to 2005
Last update: 2018-03-18
Detailed characteristics
Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Earth observation instrument
  • Limb sounders
  • Limb sounder
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 2
  • Sub-mm imagery
  • Sub-mm imager
  • UV/VIS/NIR/IR/MW limb sounders
  • UV/VIS/NIR/IR/MW scanning limb sounder
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • ClO
  • H2O
  • HNO3
  • O3
Evaluation of Measurements