The OMI instrument can distinguish between aerosol types, such as smoke, dust, and sulfates, and measures cloud pressure and coverage, which provide data to derive tropospheric ozone.

OMI continues the TOMS record for total ozone and other atmospheric parameters related to ozone chemistry and climate. OMI measurements are highly synergistic with the other instruments on the EOS Aura platform.

The OMI instrument employs hyperspectral imaging in a push-broom mode to observe solar backscatter radiation in the visible and ultraviolet. The hyperspectral capabilities improve the accuracy and precision of the total ozone amounts and also allow for accurate radiometric and wavelength self calibration over the long term.

The instrument is a contribution of the Netherlands's Agency for Aerospace Programs (NIVR) in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) to the EOS Aura mission.

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	OMI Parameters
	The instrument observes Earth's backscattered radiation with a wide-field telescope feeding two imaging grating spectrometers. Each spectrometer employs a CCD detector. Onboard calibration includes a white light source, LEDs, and a multi-surface solar-calibration diffuser. A depolarizer removes the polarization from the backscattered radiation.
	Item Parameter Wavelength range:   Visible: 350 - 500 nm UV: UV-1, 270 to 314 nm, UV-2 306 to 380 nm Spectral resolution: 1.0 - 0.45 nm FWHM Spectral sampling: 2-3 for FWHM Telescope FOV: 114¡ (2600 km on ground) IFOV: 3 km, binned to 13 x 24 km Detector: CCD: 780 x 576 (spectral x spatial) pixels Mass: 65 kg Duty cycle: 60 minutes on daylight side Power: 66 watts Data rate: 0.8 Mbps (average)   Pointing requirements (arcseconds) (Platform+instrument, pitch:roll: yaw, 3s): Accuracy: 866:866:866 Knowledge: 87:87:87 Stability (6 sec): 87:87:87 Physical Size: 50 x 40 x 35 cm