Four optical probe instruments, payloads to be aboard the FY-III weather satellite, have been developed by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The probes are infrared spectrophotometer, moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer, scanning radiometer, and earth radiometer. Needed by the operation of the FY-III weather satellite, all but ten-channel scanning radiometer are first Chinese made in the country, with technical indicators approaching the level of imported counterparts. The scanning radiometer will partially inherit the one aboard FY-I.
As a basic payload for consecutive observation, the ten-channel scanning radiometer is mainly designed to collect 2-D earth images from ten channels, capable for transmitting, processing and recording high-resolution global images. The moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer is set for dynamic watch of global oceans, lands, and atmosphere, enhancing China?痵 capacity in weather forecast, climate change study, and earth environment watch. As a major probe payload aboard FY-III, the infrared spectrophotometer is missioned to collect data on air temperature, humidity profile, ozone, clouds, and aerosols, providing parameters for weather forecast, climate change study, and environment watch. The earth radiometer will observe the longwave and solar radiations between earth and atmosphere, providing accurate radiation information for long and medium term climate change studies. |
