From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
MISR (Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer) is payload scientific instrument of the Terra satellite launched by NASA in 1999. The device is designed to gather climatalogical data and first became operation in February 2000.MISR consists of nine separate digital cameras that gather data in four different areas of the electromagnetic spectrum. The innovative aspect of the device is considered to be the use of multiple camera to gather data at many different angles at once. One camera points toward nadir, and the others provide forward and aftward view angles at 26.1°, 45.6°, 60.0°, and 70.5°. As the instrument flies overhead, each region of the Earth's surface is successively imaged by all nine cameras in each of four wavelengths (blue, green, red, and near-infrared).
The data gathered by MISR is considered useful in climatological studies concerning solar radiation flux in the Earth's biosphere. MISR is specifically designed to monitor the monthly, seasonal, and long-term trends atmospheric aerosol particles concentrations including those formed by natural sources and by human activities, cloud cover, and the distribution of land surface cover, including vegetation canopy structure.
