MLS : Microwave Limb Sounder
MLS uses microwave emission to measure stratospheric temperature and upper tropospheric constituents. MLS also has unique capability to measure upper tropospheric water vapor in the presence of tropical cirrus, and also the cirrus ice content. These measurements are valuable for diagnosing the potential for severe loss of Arctic ozone when abundances of stratospheric chlorine will still be high, and slight cooling of the stratosphere could exacerbate ozone loss due to chlorine chemistry.
MLS is providing the first global measurements of OH, HO2 and BrO, constituents that play an important role in stratospheric chemistry.
MLS is unique in its ability to provide these measurements in the presence of tropical cirrus, where important processes affecting climate variability occur. MLS also provides unique measurements of cirrus ice content.
The simultaneous MLS measurements of upper tropospheric water vapor, ice content, and temperature, under all conditions and with good vertical resolution, will be of great value for improving our understanding of processes affecting the distribution of atmospheric water, climate variability, and tropospheric-stratospheric exchange. The simultaneous measurements of dynamical tracers CO and N2O enhance the value of this data set by helping identify source regions of the air masses being observed.
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MLS PARAMETERS
| Spectral
bands: |
At
millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. |
| Spatial
resolution: |
Measurements
are performed along the sub-orbital track, and resolution varies
for different parameters; 5 km cross-track x 500 km along-track
x 3 km vertical are typical values. |
| Mass: |
490
kg |
| Duty
cycle: |
100% |
| Power: |
550
W full-on |
| Data
rate: |
100
kbps |
| Thermal
control: |
Via
radiators and louvers to space as well as heaters |
Thermal
operating range: |
10-35¡
C |
| FOV: |
Boresight
60-70¡ relative to nadir |
| 1.5
km vertical x 3 km cross-track x 300 km along-track at the limb
tangent point (instantaneous field-of-view at 640 GHz) |
| Pointing requirements (platform+instrument, 3s) : |
| Control: |
36
arcsec |
| Knowledge: |
1
arcsec per second |
| Stability: |
72
arcsec per 30 seconds |
| Jitter: |
2.7
arcsec per 1/6 second |
| |
1.5
x 1.9 x 1.8 m (GHz sensor);
0.8 x 1 x 1.1 m (THz sensor);
1.6 x 0.5 x 0.3 m (spectrometer) |
| 
