UARS ISAMS Limb Sounder Atmospheric Profiles from 1991-1992

1991-1992 data from the Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS) instrument aboard the UARS satellite. The dataset captures atmospheric profiles via limb sounding, with coverage from 80°N to 80°S. It was produced by the SCIOPS organization and last updated in July 1992.

Use Cases

• Analyzing diurnal temperature cycles using data sampled across the full 72-day precession period of the UARS orbit.
• Mapping global distributions of trace gases by leveraging the instrument's eight pressure-modulator cell (PMC) spectral channels.
• Studying hemispheric atmospheric differences by comparing profiles from ascending and descending orbital nodes.
• Modeling solar illumination effects on observations using the day/night at tangent point classification.
• Investigating viewing geometry impacts by comparing anti-sun side and sun side viewing data.

Strengths

• Global latitudinal coverage from 80°N to 80°S achieved through satellite yaw maneuvers.
• Diurnal cycle fully sampled at each latitude over the instrument's 72-day orbital precession period.
• Multiple operational modes defined by six distinct parameters including PMC pressures and scan patterns.

Limitations

• Data is from a single satellite mission (UARS) with a primary operational period in the early 1990s.
• Specific data volume, row counts, and file formats are not provided in the source description.
• The dataset's last known update was in 1992, indicating it is a historical archive with no recent updates.

Provenance

Source

Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS) instrument on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS).

Collection Method

Limb-sounding remote sensing from a 600 km altitude orbit with a 57° inclination.

Time Range

1991-1992

Freshness

Historical archive; last updated 1992-07-29.

Geography

Global, 80°N to 80°S latitude.