PREFIRE-SAT1: Raw Infrared Spectrometer Measurements for Polar Energy Budget

Global satellite data, with a concentration over polar regions, provides raw, uncurated digital number counts from a 63-channel push broom spectrometer measuring mid- to far-infrared radiation (5-53 µm). This data, collected at a 0.707-second temporal resolution starting in July 2024, aims to fill knowledge gaps in the polar radiant energy budget. The measurements are intended for assimilation into global circulation and climate models to improve future climate predictions.

Use Cases

• Calibrating and validating the Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (TIRS-PREFIRE) based on raw digital number counts.
• Assimilating far-infrared radiation measurements into global circulation models to improve climate projections.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal patterns of polar radiant energy emissions from the 63 spectral channels.
• Studying the spectral signature of Earth's atmosphere in the under-sampled far-infrared wavelength range (5-53 µm).

Strengths

• Provides high-temporal-resolution measurements (0.707 seconds) for detailed process studies.
• Focuses on the critically under-measured far-infrared spectrum (5-53 µm), where most polar emissions occur.
• Data collection is part of a twin-satellite mission (PREFIRE-SAT1 and SAT2), suggesting a systematic observational design.

Limitations

• Data is raw and uncurated, requiring significant preprocessing and calibration before scientific use.
• Column names and detailed data structure are not provided in any source, complicating initial analysis.
• The license is listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms, and one source lists no license information, creating potential access ambiguity.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Measurements from the Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (TIRS-PREFIRE) aboard the PREFIRE Satellite 1.

Time Range

From July 2024 onward (ongoing).

Freshness

Last metadata update recorded on 2026-04 09.

Geography

Global, with greatest data concentration in polar regions.