Along-Track Scanning Radiometer microwave sounder (ATSR)

Published: March 29, 2010, 12:00 am

Updated: November 27, 2011, 9:54 am

Lead Author: Steve Baum

Topics:

Environmental Monitoring

Oceans and seas

This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: C Michael Hogan

Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) microwave sounder is a satellite-borne instrument designed to measure land and ocean surface temperatures.

This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to expand this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion.

The ATSR is a passive two-channel radiometer that scans the near-infrared and middle-infrared bands with a spatial resolution of one kilometer by one kilometer and a swath width of 500 kilometers (km). It views the Earth from an orbit of about 800 km and can measure ocean temperature to within 0.3 degrees C. The ATSR can be used to detect exceptional local incidents, large scale changes, and general trends in the Earth’s climate.

Citation

Steve Baum (Lead Author);C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor) "Along-Track Scanning Radiometer microwave sounder (ATSR)". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth March 29, 2010; Last revised Date November 27, 2011; Retrieved May 22, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Along-Track_Scanning_Radiometer_microwave_sounder_(ATSR)>