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AIRS, on the EOS-Aqua, produces global high precision spectra form 3.7-15.4 micron with spectral resolving power (mu) /(Delta) (Mu) equals1200 twice each day form 708 km orbital altitude. AIRS is the first hyperspectral IR spectrometer designed to support NOAA/NCEPs the operational requirements for medium range weather forecasting during its nominal 7 year lifetime. AIRS, together with the AMSU and HSB microwave radiometers, will achieve global retrieval accuracy of better than 1K rms in the lower troposphere under clear and partly cloudy condition. Based on the excellent radiometric and spectral performance demonstrated during the pre-launch testing, the assimilation of AIRS data into the forecast model is expected to result in a major forecast improvements. Launch of AIRS on the EOS AQUA is scheduled for May 2001.
Aumann et al. (Thu,) studied this question.