Remote sounding of atmospheric temperature from satellites II. The selective chopper radiometer for Nimbus D

Abstract

Abstract The design of a six-channel radiometer for remote temperature sounding to be mounted on the Nimbus D satellite is described. Emission from carbon dioxide in the 15 μm band is monitored by the radiometer. Spectral selection in the radiometers is achieved by interference filters together with either selective absorption (to improve the vertical resolution of the instrument) or selective chopping (to enable emission from altitudes up to 50 km to be monitored).