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- [Source: National Space Science Data Center, http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1966-040A-04 ]
The Nimbus 2 Medium-Resolution Infrared Radiometer (MRIR) experiment measured the intensity and distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted by and reflected from the earth and its atmosphere in five selected wavelength intervals from 0.2 to 30 micrometers. Data for heat balance of the earth-atmosphere system were obtained, as well as measurements of water vapor distribution, surface or near-surface temperatures, and seasonal changes of stratospheric temperature distribution. The five wavelength regions were (1) the 6.4- to 6.9-micrometer channel, which covered the 6.7-micrometer water vapor absorption band, (2) the 10- to 11-micrometer band, which operated in the "atmospheric window," (3) the 14- to 16-micrometer band, which covered the 15-micrometer carbon dioxide absorption band, (4) the 5- to 30-micrometer band, which measured the emitted long-wavelength infrared energy for heat budget purposes, and (5) the 0.2- to 4.0-micrometer channel, which yielded information on the intensity of reflected solar energy (albedo). Radiant energy from the earth was collected by a flat scanning mirror inclined at 45 deg to the optical axis. The mirror rotated at 8 rpm and scanned in a plane perpendicular to the direction of motion of the satellite. Each of the five channels contained a 4.33-cm-diameter folded telescope with a 2.8-deg field of view and a thermistor-bolometer. The collected energy was modulated by a mechanical chopper to produce an ac signal. The signal was then amplified and recorded on magnetic tape for subsequent playback to a ground acquisition station. At a satellite altitude of 1100 km, a horizontal resolution of 55 km could be obtained. The MRIR experiment was successful, and good data were obtained from launch until the recorder failed on July 29, 1966. For more detailed information of the experiment and the index of data, see Section 4 of "Nimbus II Users' Guide" (TRF B03406), "The Nimbus II Medium Resolution Infrared Pictorial Data Catalog" (TRF B06580), and "The Nimbus II Data Catalog" (TRF B06573), available from NSSDC.
Group: Instrument_Details
Entry_ID: MRIR NIMBUS-2
Group: Instrument_Identification
Instrument_Category: Earth Remote Sensing Instruments
Instrument_Class: Passive Remote Sensing
Instrument_Type: Spectrometers/Radiometers
Instrument_Subtype: Radiometers
Short_Name: MRIR NIMBUS-2
Long_Name: Medium-Resolution Infrared Radiometer on NIMBUS-2
End_Group
Group: Associated_Platforms
Short_Name: NIMBUS-3
Short_Name: NIMBUS-2
End_Group
Group: Spectral_Frequency_Information
Wavelength_Keyword: Infrared > Thermal
Spectral_Frequency_Coverage_Range: 6.4 μm- 6.9 μm
End_Group
Group: Spectral_Frequency_Information
Wavelength_Keyword: Infrared > Thermal
Spectral_Frequency_Coverage_Range: 10 μm - 11 μm
End_Group
Group: Spectral_Frequency_Information
Wavelength_Keyword: Infrared > Thermal
Spectral_Frequency_Coverage_Range: 14 μm - 16 μm
End_Group
Group: Spectral_Frequency_Information
Wavelength_Keyword: Infrared > Thermal
Spectral_Frequency_Coverage_Range: 5 μm - 30 μm
End_Group
Group: Spectral_Frequency_Information
Wavelength_Keyword: Infrared > Reflected
Spectral_Frequency_Coverage_Range: 0.2 μm - 4.0 μm
End_Group
Online_Resource: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1966-040A-03
Online_Resource: http://nasascience.nasa.gov/missions/nimbus
Online_Resource: http://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/nimbus/
Group: Instrument_Logistics
Instrument_Owner: USA/NASA
End_Group
End_Group
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