Television Satellite Infrared Observation

The satellite Television Infrared Observation Satellite ( TIROS ) one of the first series of satellites are launched by the NASA and its very first Meteorological satellite Circumpolaire having had success. TIROS-1 was put into orbit in 1960 and had on its board two television cameras to send images of the clouds towards a ground station. It showed that the concept was good even if its lifespan were only 78 days. Ten of this first generation were lances.

The following generations of these satellites name ESSA-TIROS (9 satellites), NOAA ITOS ( I mproved T iros O perational S ystems) or TIRO-M (9 satellites), TIROS-N (3 satellites) and lately of the advanced TIROS-N (11 satellites and one envisaged in December 2007). Most recent in operation is the NOAA-18.

These satellites turn in heliosynchronous Orbite between 700 and 900 km of the ground and thus allow a very high resolution of the data. They work in pairs, one making its rotation around the Pôles contrary to the other in order to cover each point flown over of a maximum cover to mitigate the fact that they are not Géostationnaire S like the GOES or METEOSAT. Their period of revolution (lasted necessary to achieve a full rotation) is approximately 102 minutes, so that they fly over the equator at least 14 times per day, in ascending passage and descendant. The 2 satellites being out of phase, the same area is flown over at least 4 times per day with an interval of approximately 6 hours.

With each generation, the instruments improved and are classified in three categories:

  • Of the Radiomètre S which collect different longeurs from wave of the electromagnetic Specter. Those of the next NOAA-18 (2007) are AVHRR ( has dvanced V ery H igh R esolution R adiometer) with resolution of 1,1 km under the satellite. They have three channels:

* 0,58 to 0,68 micrometer (visible).
* 0,725 to 1,10 micrometers (near infra-red).
* 3,55 to 3,93 micrometers (average infra-red).
* 10,3 to 11,3 micrometers (thermal infra-red) with a resolution of 0,12 Centigrade.
* 11,5 to 12,5 micrometers (thermal infra-red) with a resolution of 0,12 Centigrade.
  • Of the imageurs with continuous sweeping.
  • Of the Sensor S of the type TOVS ( T iros O perational V ertical S ounder) to draw from information on the vertical structure of temperature, moisture and ozone of the atmosphere which use the infra-red and the microwaves.

Moreover, for a certain time, these satellites are provided with systems of listening and retransmission of the beacons with distresses for research and the rescue.

Use

Satellites TIROS are complementary to the geostationary satellites by giving weather information to a highher resolution but to a less large frequency. Their given thus are especially used to follow systems of longer evolution such as for example the marine currents and the fog which they generate. Moreover, they are the only ones with being able to give information in the polar regions which the GOES or METEOSAT see only with shaving angle.

See too

Related articles

External bonds

  • Site of Weather-France on the TIROS14 and 15
  • Use of TIROS for the cover of ice in [[the Big lakes (North America)|Big lakes] and the Arctic . ]
  • Page of NASA, centers Goddard on satellites GOES and circumpolar
  • Site of op/ration of the circumpolar satellites of the NOAA

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