CAR is a multi-wavelength scanning radiometer for determining albedo of clouds in the visible and near-infrared and measuring the angular distribution of scattered radiation and bidirectional reflectance of various surface types. It acquires imagery of cloud and Earth surface features.
For details, visit: https://car.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Instrument Type
Measurements
Aircraft
Recent Missions
Point(s) of Contact
(POC; PI)
Measurement Details
Range of Measurement
Other
Instrument Pointing
Zenith (directly upwards)Upwards pointing but not directly upwardsNadir (directly downwards)Downwards pointing but not directly downwardsCross-track scanning
Pointing Angles
190
Measurement Sampling Rate
1.67 Hz
Horizontal Resolution
10.00 m (at 0.6 km)
Data Delivery
quicklook images are available immediately after the flight. Calibrated data are available 1-2 weeks after the deployment.
Integration Details
Weight
42.00 kg
Size
74.00 cm (L) x 41.00 cm (W) x 39.00 cm (H)
Location
Nose of J-31, NASA P-3B
Additional Information
Website
Publications
Gatebe, C.K., et al. (2003), Airborne spectral measurements of surface–atmosphere anisotropy for several surfaces and ecosystems over southern Africa, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 8489, doi:10.1029/2002JD002397.
King, M.D., et al. (1986), Multiwavelength scanning radiometer for airborne measurements of scattered radiation within clouds, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 3, 513-522.
Gatebe, C.K., and M.D. King (2016), Airborne spectral BRDF of various surface types (ocean, vegetation, snow, desert, wetlands, cloud decks, smoke layers) for remote sensing applications, Remote Sensing of Environment, 179, 131-148, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2016.03.029.