The Nimbus-7 Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) instrument began recording data
on November 16, 1978 and continued through June 20, 1980. The principal
products are nine years of global albedo, outgoing longwave, and net radiation
plus continuing solar irradiance measurements. The presence of an associated
six-year Nimbus-7 global cloud data set enhances the usefulness of the ERB
products. Chief uses of the data include studies in regional energy heat
budgets, the improvement of climate and weather prediction models, interannual
climate variations, shortwave bidirectional reflectance from Earth atmosphere
scenes, and solar physics.
The spacecraft housed eight distinct subsystems and/or experiments for
monitoring different aspects of the Earth and its environment.
The Nimbus-7 mission afforded an opportunity to conduct a variety of
experiments in the pollution, oceanographic and meteorological disciplines.
The mission also extended and refined capabilities demonstrated by
experiments on previous Nimbus observatories. Specific objects of the
mission were as follows:
To observe gases and particulates in the atmosphere for the purpose
of determining the feasibility of mapping sources, sinks, and dispersion
mechanisms of atmospheric pollutants.
To observe ocean color, temperature, and ice conditions,
particularly in coastal zones, with sufficient spatial and spectral
resolution to determine the feasibility of applications such as (a)
detecting pollutants in the upper level of the oceans, (b) determining the
nature of materials suspended in the water, (c) applying the observations
to the mapping of sediments, biologically productive areas, and
interactions between coastal effluents and open ocean waters, and (d)
demonstrating improvement in ship route forecasting.
To make quantitative measurements of air-surface boundary conditions
(e.g., soil moisture, snow and ice cover, sea surface temperature and
roughness, and albedo) or of precipitation, and to improve long-range
weather forecasting in support of the Global Atmospheric Research
Program.
To continue to make baseline measurements of variations of long wave
radiation fluxes outsie the atmosphere and atmospheric constituents for the
purpose of determining the effect of these variations on the Earth's
climate.
Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
Contact Information:
Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
Ardanuy, P.e., and H. Jacobowiz. A calibration technique combining ERB
parameters from different remote sensing platforms into a long-term data set,
J. Geophys. Res., 89 (D4), June 30, 1984.
Ardanuy, P., and J. Rea. Degradation asymmetrics and recovery of the NIMBUS
7 earth radiation budget shortwave radiometer, J. Geophys. Res., 89
(D4), June 30, 1984.
Arking, A., and S. K. Vemury. The NIMBUS 7 ERB data set: A critical analysis,
J. Geophys. Res., 89 (D4), June 30, 1984.
Barkstrom, B. R., and J. B. Hall. Earth radiation budget experiment (ERBE):
An overview, J. Energy, 6, 141-146, 1982.
Davis, P. A., E. R. Major, and H. Jacobowitz. An assessment of NIMBUS
7 ERB shortwave scanner data by correlative analysis with narrowband CZCS
data. J. Geophys. Res., 89 (D4), June 30, 1984.
Hickey, J. R., and A. R. Karoli. Radiometer calibrations for the earth
radiation budget experiment, Appl. Opt., 13, 523-533, 1974.
Hickey, J. R., B. M. Alton, F. J. Griffin, H. Jacobowitz, P. Pellegrino,
and R. H. Maschhoff. Indications of solar variability in the near UV from
the Nimbus 7 ERB experiment, paper presented at Third Scientific Assembly,
IAMAP, Hamburg, Fed. Repub. Ger., Aug. 17-28, 1981.
Jacobowitz, H., L. L. Stowe, and J. R. Hickey. The earth radiation budget
(ERB) experiment. The Nimbus-7 User's Guide, pp. 33-69, NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 1978.
Jacobowitz, H., R. J. Tighe, and the NIMBUS 7 Experiment Team. The earth
radiation budget derived from the NIMBUS 7 ERB experiment, J. Geophys.
Res., 89 (D4), June 30, 1984.
Kyle, H. L., F. B. House, P. E. Ardanuy, H. Jacobowitz, R. H. Maschhoff,
and J. R. Hickey. New inflight calibration adjustment of the NIMBUS 6 and
7 earth radiation budget wide-field-of-view radiometers, J. Geophys. Res.,
89 (D4), June 30, 1984.
Maschhoff, R., A. Jalink, J. Hickey, and J. Swedberg. NIMBUS earth radiation
budget sensor characterization for improved data reduction fidelity, J.
Geophys. Res., 89 (D4), June 30, 1984.
Predmore, R. E., H. Jacobowitz, and J. R. Hickey. Exospheric cleaning
of the earth radiation budget solar radiometer during solar maximum, Proc.
Soc. Photo.-Opt. Instrum. Eng., 338, 104-113, 1982.
Raschke, E., T. H. Vonder Haar, W. R. Bandeen, and M. Pasternak. The Annual
Radiation Balance of the Earth-Atmosphere System During 1969-1970 From Nimbus-3
Measurements, NASA Tech. Note 7249, 1973.
Smith, W. L., D. T. Hilleary, H. Jacobowitz, H. B. Howell, J. R. Hickey,
and A. J. Drummond. Nimbus-6 Earth Radiation Budget Experiment, Appl. Opt.,
16, 306-318, 1977.
Soule, H. V., Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) Calibration Algorithm History,
Research, and Data Systems, Contract. Rep. CR 170515, NASA, Greenbelt, MD,
1983a.
Soule, H. V., Nimbus 6 and 7 Earth Radiation Bujdget (ERB) Sensor Details
and Component Tests, NASA Tech. Memo, 83906, 1983b.
Suomi, N. E. The thermal radiation Balances Experiment Onboard Explorer
7, NASA Tech. Note D-608, 11, pp. 273-305, 1961.
Taylor, V. R., and L. L. Stowe. Reflectance characteristics of uniform
earth and cloud surfaces derived from Nimbus-7 ERB, J. Geophys. Res.,
89 (D4), June 30, 1984.
Vemury, S. K., L. Stowe, and H. Jacobowitz. Sample size and scene identification
(cloud); Effect on albedo, J. Geophys. Res., 89 (D4), June 30,
1984.
