ESA’s MERIS Sensor Completes Testing
By Staff Writer | July 10, 2003
The medium resolution imaging spectrometer (MERIS) sensor aboard the Envisat environmental satellite is ready to begin operating, the European Space Agency announced Thursday. A test campaign has validated the software system that converts top-of-atmosphere radiation readings into measurements of ocean color, atmospheric water vapor and land cover.
MERIS measures solar radiation reflected off the Earth in 15 separate bands of visible and near-infrared light. When Envisat was launched, ESA began a calibration campaign to make sure all instruments, including MERIS, were working optimally.