The Cloud's and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) is a 3-channel radiometer measuring reflected solar radiation in the 0.3-5 µm wavelength band, emitted terrestrial radiation in the 8-12 µm band, and total radiation from 0.3 µm to beyond 100 µm. These data are being used to measure the Earth's total thermal radiation budget, and, in combination with MODIS data, detailed information about clouds. The first CERES instrument was launched on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite in November 1997; the second and third CERES instuments were launched on the Terra satellite in December 1999; and the fourth and fifth CERES instruments are on board the Aqua satellite.
- Selected for flight on TRMM, Terra, and Aqua.
- Two broadband, scanning radiometers: One cross-track mode, one rotating azimuth plane (bi-axial scanning).
- First instrument (cross-track scanning) is continuing ERBE, TRMM, and Terra measurements and the second (biaxially scanning) is providing angular radiance information to improve the accuracy of angular models used to derive the Earth's radiative balance.
- Single scanner on TRMM mission (launched Nov. 1997)
- Dual scanners on Terra (launched Dec. 1999) and Aqua, and single thereafter.
| Heritage |
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Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) |
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| Prime Contractor |
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TRW |
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| Responsible Center |
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NASA Langley Research Center |
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| Three Channels in Each Radiometer |
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Total radiance (0.3 to 100 µm); Shortwave (0.3 to 5 µm); Window (8 to 12 µm) |
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| Swath |
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Limb to limb |
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| Spatial Resolution |
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20 km at nadir |
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| Mass |
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50 kg per scanner |
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| Duty Cycle |
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100% |
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| Power |
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47 W (average) per scanner, 104 W (peak: biaxial mode) both scanners |
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| Data Rate |
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10 kbps per scanner |
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| Thermal Control By |
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Heaters, radiators |
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| Thermal Operating Range |
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38±0.1°C (detectors) |
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| Field of View (FOV) |
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±78° cross-track, 360° azimuth |
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| Instrument Instantaneous FOV |
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14 mrad |
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| Pointing Requirements (platform + instrument 3σ) |
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| Control |
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720 arcsec |
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| Knowledge |
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180 arcsec |
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| Stability |
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79 arcsec/6.6 sec |
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| Physical Size |
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60 x 60 x 57.6 cm/unit |
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 "CERES Scans the Globe"
There are two CERES on Aqua, following two on the Terra satellite, launched in 1999, and one on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, launched in 1997. This artist's concept animation shows the CERES instruments (one in cross-track scan mode, the other in biaxial scan mode) measuring heat emitted (outgoing longwave radiation) to space from Earth's surface. | |
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