BackForwardInstrument:  VISSR (Himawari-5) 

Instrument details
Acronym VISSR (Himawari-5)
Full name Visible-Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer
Purpose Multi-purpose VIS/IR imagery
Short description 4-channel VIS/IR radiometer [see detailed characteristics below]
Background Evolution of VISSR flown on Himawari 1 to 4
Scanning Technique W-E continuous scanning (100 rps) by the spinning satellite rotation, N-S by mechanical stepping
Resolution 1.25 km at s.s.p. (VIS channel), 5 km at s.s.p. (IR channels)
Coverage / Cycle Full disk each 30 min
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency JAXA
Instrument Maturity Flown on operational programme
Utilization Period: 1995 to 2003
Last update: 2017-03-27
Detailed characteristics

Central wavelength

Spectral interval

SNR or NEΔT @ specified input

0.72 µm

0.55-0.90 µm

6.5 @ 2.5 % albedo or 43 @ 95 % albedo

6.75 µm

6.5-7.0 µm

1.0 K @ 300 K

11.0 µm

10.5-11.5 µm

0.5-0.65 K @ 300 K

12.0 µm

11.5-12.5 µm

0.5-0.65 K @ 300 K

Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Earth observation instrument
  • Passive optical radiometer or spectrometer
  • Moderate resolution optical imager
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 1
  • Multi-spectral VIS/IR imagery With rapid repeat cycles [in GEO]
  • Multi-spectral VIS/IR imager with rapid repeat cycles [in GEO]
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Cloud cover
  • Cloud top height
  • Cloud top temperature
  • Cloud type
  • Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)
  • Wind (horizontal)
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Cloud cover*4 - fairNo specific limitation.VIS and TIR channels
Cloud top height*3 - highNo specific limitation.TIR channels in window and water vapour band (for emissivity) to estimate cloud top height from its temperature
Cloud top temperature*2 - very highNo specific limitation.TIR channels in window and water vapour band (for emissivity)
Cloud type*4 - fairDaylight only.VIS and TIR channels
Fire fractional cover4 - fairCloud sensitive.. Coarse spatial resolution.VIS and TIR channels
Fire radiative power5 - marginalCloud sensitive.. Coarse spatial resolution.TIR channels. Frequent sampling (GEO) enables early detection
Fire temperature5 - marginalCloud sensitive.. Coarse spatial resolution.TIR channels. Frequent sampling (GEO) enables early detection
Land surface temperature4 - fairCloud sensitive.TIR split window channels around 11 micrometers for water vapour correction
Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)3 - highConvective precipitation dominant.. Calibration by MW needed.TIR channel(s) in the 11 micrometers window. Frequent sampling (GEO) consistent with precipitation temporal variability
Sea surface temperature4 - fairCloud sensitive.TIR split window channels around 11 micrometers for water vapour correction
Snow cover5 - marginalCloud sensitive.. Daylight only.VIS channel(s). Frequent sampling (GEO) improves probability of cloud-free views
Soil moisture at surface4 - fairCloud sensitive.. Index only.VIS and TIR window channels. Soil moisture inferred from thermal inertia, that is accurately measured by frequent sampling (GEO)
Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)*2 - very highCloud sensitive.TIR channels around 6.3 micrometers and in the 11 micrometers split window
Aerosol volcanic ash Total Column1 - primaryCloud sensitive.TIR channel(s). Frequent sampling (GEO) enables early detection of ash plumes
Wind (horizontal)*3 - highCloud or water vapour tracers needed.VIS channel(s) and TIR channels around 6.3 and 11 micrometers. Frequent sampling (GEO) enables inference from cloud or water vapour pathces motion
Accumulated precipitation (over 24 h)4 - fairConvective precipitation dominant.. Calibration by MW needed.TIR channel(s) in the 10-13 micrometers range. Frequent sampling (GEO) is essential for accumulated precipitation.