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Table 1--AVHRR Spectral Channels, Resolution, and Primary Uses

Channel Number
Wavelength (micrometers) NOAA-6,8,10,12
Wavelength (micrometers) NOAA-7,9,11
IFOV (milliradians)
Primary Uses
1
0.58 - 0.68
0.58 - 0.68
1.39
Daytime cloud/surface and vegetation mapping
2
0.725 - 1.10
0.725 - 1.10
1.41
Surface water, ice, snow melt, and vegetation mapping
3A
-
1.58-1.64
(NOAA 15-16)
1.3
Snow and ice detection
3B
3.55 - 3.93
3.55 - 3.93
1.51*
Sea surface temperature, night-time cloud mapping
4
10.50 - 11.50
10.3 - 11.3
1.41
Sea surface temperature, day and night cloud mapping
5
Channel 4
repeated
11.5 - 12.5
1.30
Sea surface temperature, day and night cloud mapping

*NOTE: IFOV is 1.3 for all sensors on NOAA 15 and 16

 

Table 2--Temporal Coverage of AVHRR Sensors
Satellite Number
Launch Date
Ascending Node
Descending Node
Start Date
End Date
TIROS-N
10/13/78
1500
0300
10/19/78
01/30/80
NOAA-6
06/27/79
1930
0730
06/27/79
11/16/86
NOAA-7
06/23/81
1430
0230
08/24/81
06/07/86
NOAA-8
03/28/83
1930
0730
05/03/83
10/31/85
NOAA-9
12/12/84
1420
0220
02/25/85
11/07/88
NOAA-10
09/17/86
1930
0730
11/17/86
08/30/01
NOAA-11
09/24/88
1340
0140
11/08/88
09/13/94
NOAA-12
05/14/91
1930
0730
05/14/91
04/05/01
Stand By
NOAA-13
08/09/93
---
---
Failed
---
NOAA-14
12/30/94
1340
0140
12/30/94
Present
NOAA-15
05/13/98
0730
1930
04/10/95
Present
NOAA-16
09/21/00
1400
0200
03/20/01
Present
NOAA-17
06/24/02
2200
1000
10/15/02
Present
NOAA-18
05/20/05
1400
0200
06/10/05
Present

Notes:

1. All spectral channels of the AVHRR scanner, which is built by ITT Aerospace/Optical Division, are geometrically registered to one another so that they simultaneously measure reflected sunlight and emitted energy (heat) from the surface as the satellite orbits the Earth. The nominal altitude of the space craft is about 850 km (528 miles). The

Notes:

1. All spectral channels of the AVHRR scanner, which is built by ITT Aerospace/Optical Division, are geometrically registered to one another so that they simultaneously measure reflected sunlight and emitted energy (heat) from the surface as the satellite orbits the Earth. The nominal altitude of the space craft is about 850 km (528 miles). The spectral data are broadcast continually to NOAA receiving stations on Earth and also tape-recorded onboard for later transmission. Although the spatial resolution of these data are loosely said to be 1 km, the average instantaneous field-of-view (IFOV) is 1.1 km at nadir (image center) and increases to about 5 km at the most extreme off-nadir viewing angles nearest the edges of the 3,000 km wide imaging swath. Far off-nadir pixels are not used for the NDVI image maps and geometric processing is used to adjust (resample) the images to the stated 1-km pixel resolution.

2. Presently 3 NOAA satellites are actively used to collect AVHRR data. NOAA satellites 14, 15, and 16 are operational.

3. For more information about the Global Land 1-km AVHRR Project, the AVHRR sensor and image processing methods, and links to other U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center, NOAA, and NASA programs go to Get More Information.

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