GOES-I/M SOUNDER

The GOES Sounder is a 19-channel discrete-filter radiometer covering the spectral range from the visible channel wavelengths to 15 microns. It is designed to provide data from which atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, surface and cloud-top temperatures, and ozone distribution can be deduced by mathematical analysis. It operates independently of and simultaneously with the Imager, using a similarly flexible scan system. The Sounder's multi-element detector array assemblies simultaneously sample four separate fields or atmospheric columns. A rotating filter wheel, which brings spectral filters into the optical path of the detector array, provides the infrared channel definition.

PRODUCTS, RESOLUTION AND ACCURACY

              RESOLUTION (km)         ACCURACY
                Vert.   Horiz.     Absolute  Relative
PRODUCT
 TEMPERATURE
  Profile       3-5     50           2-3 K      1 K
  Land          ---     10            2 K       1 K
  Sea           ---     10            1 K     0.5 K
 MOISTURE
  Profile       2-4     50            30%       20%
  Total         ---     10            20%       10%
  Motion      3 layers  50          6 m/sec    3 m/sec
 CLOUD
  Height      2 layers  10            50 mb     25 mb
  Amount        total   10            15%        5%
 OZONE*
  Total         ---     50            30%       15%
  Motion       1 layer  50          10 m/sec   5 m/sec
IR Flux*        total   50          10 W/m^2   3 W/m^2

KEY: * = potential future product