Envisat MERIS Satellite Top of Atmosphere Spectral Radiance Measurements

15 spectral bands of Top of Atmosphere radiance data were captured by the Envisat satellite's MERIS instrument operating continuously on its descending orbit track. The European Space Agency produced this Level 1 Reduced Resolution product, with a reprocessing release in July 2020. RR data was acquired over 43.5 minutes in each orbit.

Use Cases

• Analyze atmospheric composition by comparing radiance values across the 15 spectral bands.
• Model surface reflectance by using Top of Atmosphere radiance measurements as input for correction algorithms.
• Monitor temporal changes in Earth's spectral signature using the time-series data from the descending orbit track.
• Validate instrument models using the band-pass characteristics derived from on-ground and in-flight characterization.

Strengths

• Data comprises 15 distinct spectral bands, each with its own radiance file.
• Each measurement is accompanied by an associated error estimate file for uncertainty analysis.

Limitations

• The dataset's last update was in 2012, indicating it is not current and covers a historical period.
• The Reduced Resolution acquisition covers only 80% of the descending track, not the full orbit.
• Specific row counts, geographic coverage, and file sizes are unknown, limiting assessment of scope.

Provenance

Source

European Space Agency (ESA) Envisat satellite MERIS instrument.

Collection Method

Satellite sensor measurements processed into Level 1 Reduced Resolution product, with band-pass derived from instrument characterization.

Time Range

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Freshness

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Geography

Global coverage from Envisat's descending orbit track.