MRIR/Nimbus-3 Level 1 Meteorological Radiation Data V001 (MRIRN3L1)

Its purpose is to provide information on water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere and, in conjunction with the other channels to provide data concerning relative humidities at these altitudes. (2) 10 to 11 microns - Operating in an atmospheric "window," this channel measures surface or near-surface temperatures over clear portions of the atmosphere. It also provides cloud cover and cloud height information (day and night).

(3) 14.5 to 15.5 microns - This channel, centered about the strong absorption band of C02 at 15 microns, measures radiation which emanates primarily from the stratosphere. The information gained here is of primary importance to in following seasonal stratospheric temperature changes. (4) 20 to 23 microns - This channel yields data from the spectral region containing the broad rotational absorption bands of water vapor.

It will provide information similar to that of the 6.5 to 7.0 micron channel except that the flux will largely be radiated from lower in the atmosphere. (5) 0.2 to 4.0 microns - This channel covers more than 99% of the solar spectrum and yields information on the intensity of the reflected solar energy from the earth and its atmosphere. These data were previously archived at NASA NSSDC as product NMRT-MRIR under the entry ID ESAD-00183 (originally 69-037A-05B).