SCIAMACHY is an imaging spectrometer whose primary mission objective is to perform global measurements of trace gases in the troposphere and in the stratosphere. The solar radiation transmitted, backscattered and reflected from the atmosphere is recorded at relatively high resolution (0.2 nm to 0.5 nm) over the range 240 nm to 1700 nm, and in selected regions between 2000 nm and 2400 nm.
The high resolution and the wide wavelength range make it possible to detect many different trace gases despite low concentrations (The mixing ratios of most constituents are of the order of 10-6 or less).
The large wavelength range is also ideally suited for the detection of clouds and aerosols.
SCIAMACHY has three different viewing geometries: nadir, limb, and sun/moon occultations which yield total column values as well as distribution profiles in the stratosphere and (in some cases) the troposphere for trace gases and aerosols.
Status
Operational
Type
Atmospheric Chemistry
Technical Characteristics
Accuracy
Radiometric: <4%
Spatial Resolution
Limb vertical 3 x 132km, Nadir horizontal 32 x 215km
Swath Width
Limb and nadir mode: 1000km (max)
Waveband
UV-SWIR: 240-314, 309-3405, 394-620, 604-805, 785-1050, 1000-1750, 1940-2040 and 2265-2380nm
EO Data Access
