Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) provides 3D measurements of temperature, water vapor, trace gases, and surface and cloud properties through the atmospheric column.

AIRS NRT Data and Information

AIRS Version 7 Level 2 and Level 3 data products are now available. Please see the release news. Users are encouraged to start using AIRS Version 7 NRT products. Version 6 will continue to be available until 2022, when Aqua is scheduled to leave the A-train, and possibly 6–12 months after that.

Launched in 2002, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provides 3D measurements of temperature, water vapor, trace gases, and surface and cloud properties through the atmospheric column. Near real-time (NRT) AIRS data are available through LANCE generally within 75 to 140 minutes of satellite observation. AIRS is a key tool for weather forecasts and research on greenhouse gas distribution.

To download AIRS data, register for an Earthdata Login. Use the table below to access specific LANCE data products.

AIRS/Aqua Version 7 for Level 2

Product
(Download link)
Description Volume
(GB/day)
Browse
AIRS2RET_NRT.007 L2 standard retrieval product using AIRS IR only
Retrieved estimates of cloud and surface properties, plus profiles of retrieved temperature, water vapor, and trace gases
0.91

Worldview Browse (Note: this product is split in to 26 layers in Worldview)

AIRS2CCF_NRT.007 L2 cloud-cleared radiances using AIRS IR only 3.24 N/A
AIRS2SUP_NRT.007 L2 support product using AIRS IR only Retrieved estimates of cloud, dust, precipitation, and surface properties, plus higher vertical resolution profiles of retrieved temperature, water vapor, and trace gases 4.93 Worldview Browse (Note: this product is split in to 4 layers in Worldview)

AIRS/Aqua Version 5 for Level 1 and Version 6 for Level 2

Product
(Download link)
Description Volume
(GB/day)
Browse
AIRIBRAD_NRT.005 L1B IR geolocated radiances 13.18 N/A
AIRIBRAD_NRT_BUFR.005 324-channel subset of L1B IR geolocated radiances in BUFR format 1.64 N/A
AIRVBRAD_NRT.005 L1B Vis/Near-IR geolocated radiances 1.36 N/A
AIRABRAD_NRT.005 L1B AMSU-A1 & AMSU-A2 combined, geolocated & calibrated brightness temperatures 0.14 N/A
AIRIBQAP_NRT.005 L1B IR quality assurance subset 0.58 N/A
AIRVBQAP_NRT.005 L1B Vis/Near-IR quality assurance subset 0.15 N/A
AIRICRAD_NRT.6.7 L1C IR resampled and corrected radiances 27.18 N/A
AIRS2RET_NRT.006 L2 standard retrieval product using AIRS IR only Retrieved estimates of cloud and surface properties, plus profiles of retrieved temperature, water vapor, and trace gases 0.91 N/A
AIRS2CCF_NRT.006 L2 cloud-cleared radiances using AIRS IR only 3.24 N/A
AIRS2SUP_NRT.006 L2 support product using AIRS IR only Retrieved estimates of cloud, dust, precipitation, and surface properties, plus higher vertical resolution profiles of retrieved temperature, water vapor, and trace gases 4.93 N/A


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