NOAA AVHRR

The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is a space-borne sensor developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to monitor Earth's surface and atmospheric conditions. Since its first deployment in 1978, AVHRR has been instrumental in providing continuous, twice-daily global coverage, making it invaluable for long-term environmental monitoring.

Key features of this radiometer include:

• Multispectral Imaging: Captures data across five spectral bands—visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared—enabling diverse environmental analyses.

• High Temporal Resolution: Offers twice-daily global coverage, facilitating the monitoring of dynamic environmental changes.

• Wide Swath Width: Covers a swath of approximately 2,500 kilometres, allowing for extensive area observation in a single pass.

• Moderate Spatial Resolution: Provides a ground resolution of approximately 1.1 kilometres at nadir, suitable for regional and global studies.

AVHRR data have been widely applied in various scientific fields, including:

• Meteorology: Tracking cloud patterns, storms, and temperature variations.

• Oceanography: Measuring sea surface temperatures and monitoring ocean currents.

• Climatology: Assessing long-term climate trends and environmental changes.

• Agriculture: Monitoring crop health and vegetation indices.

• Forestry: Detecting forest fires and assessing deforestation.

Institutions such as meteorological agencies, environmental research centres, universities, and agricultural organisations commonly utilise AVHRR data for research and operational purposes. The sensor's extensive data archive, spanning over four decades, continues to support studies in climate change, environmental monitoring, and resource management.