Ceres Fm-6 on Noaa-20 Enabling Continuity of Earth Radiation Budget Measurements Initial Results

摘要

The Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System (CERES) program has the objective of producing a multi-decadal Climate Data Record (CDR) of Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) measurements. CERES Flight Model 6 was placed in orbit in November 2017 aboard the NOAA-20 spacecraft. FM-6 joined the FM-1 and FM-2 aboard the Terra, FM-3 and -4 aboard the Aqua, and FM-5 aboard the S-NPP spacecraft to continue the Earth radiation budget CDR. FM-6 is the most highly calibrated CERES instrument due to improvements in the extensive ground calibration campaign. Operations in orbit began with functional check-outs followed immediately by a period of intensive calibrations and validation checks. Results demonstrate agreement with ground calibrations within 1%. Operations to inter-calibrate with other CERES instruments will commence in the Spring of 2018. These comparisons are necessary to assure a seamless Earth radiation budget CDR.