This data set consists of daily, global grayscale TIFF images derived from radiative temperatures measured in the 6.7 µm window (6.5 µm - 7.0 µm). These data were detected by the Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) on board the Nimbus 4, Nimbus 5, and Nimbus 6 satellites, respectively, during 1970-1971, 1973-1975, and 1975. The Nimbus satellites used the THIR 6.7 µm window to map the water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. Note: This data set is not georeferenced and there are some gaps in temporal coverage because of missing data.

This data set (NmTHIR115-1H) consists of daily, global radiative temperatures measured in the 11.5 µm window (10.5 µm - 12.5 µm) by the Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) on board the Nimbus 4 satellite. This window was used to measure cloud top or surface temperatures.

This data set (NmTHIR67-1H) consists of daily, global radiative temperatures measured in the 6.7 µm window (6.5 µm - 7.0 µm) by the Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) on board the Nimbus 4 satellite. The THIR 6.7 µm window was used to map the water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere and stratosphere.

This data set (NmTHIR115-3H) consists of daily, global composites of radiative temperatures obtained in the 11.5 µm window (10.5 µm - 12.5 µm) by the Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) on board the Nimbus 4 satellite. The composites were constructed from Nimbus 4 THIR swath data and show cloud top or surface temperatures.

This data set (NmTHIR115-3G) consists of daily, global composites of radiative temperatures obtained in the 11.5 µm window (10.5 µm - 12.5 µm) by the Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) on board the Nimbus 4 satellite. This window was used to measure cloud top or surface temperatures. Data files are GeoTIFF versions of the HDF-formatted equatorial projection file only from the Nimbus Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer 11.5 µm Remapped Digital Data Daily L3, HDF5 (NmTHIR115-3H) data set.

This data set (NmTHIR67-3H) consists of daily, global composites of radiative temperatures measured in the 6.7 µm water vapor window (6.5 µm - 7.0 µm) by the Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) onboard the Nimbus 4 satellite. The composites were constructed from Nimbus 4 THIR swath data and show water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere and stratosphere.

This data set (NmTHIR67-3G) consists of daily, global composites of radiative temperatures obtained in the 6.7 µm water vapor window (6.5 µm - 7.0 µm) by the Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) on board the Nimbus 4 satellite. The THIR 6.7 µm window was used to map the water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. Data files are GeoTIFF versions of the HDF-formatted equatorial projection file only from the Nimbus Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer 6.7 µm Water Vapor Remapped Digital Data Daily, HDF5 (NmTHIR67-3H) data set.

The Nimbus-4 Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) Level 1 Radiance Data contain thermal emissions of the Earth's atmosphere at wave numbers between 400 and 1600 cm**-1, with a nominal resolution of 2.8 cm**-1. The data also contain documentation information, reference calibration, average instrument temperatures, and a summary for each orbital pass. The data, originally written on IBM 360 machines, were recovered from 9-track magnetic tapes. The data are archived in their original IBM 32-bit word binary record format, and each file contains an entire day of measurements. The product contains data from April 9, 1970 (day of year 99) through Jan 31, 1971 (day of year 31). The IRIS instrument was designed to provide information on the vertical structure of the atmosphere and on the emissive properties of the earth's surface by measuring the surface and atmospheric radiation in the 6.25 to 25 micrometer range using a modified Michelson interferometer. IRIS viewed along the satellite track direction with a spatial resolution of 94 km at nadir. A Fourier transform was applied to the interferograms to produce thermal emmision spectra of the Earth which could be used to derive vertical profiles of temperature, water vapor, and ozone, as well as other parameters of meteorological interest. The Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) experiment on Nimbus-4 is a follow on experiment to the Nimbus-3 IRIS experiment. The IRIS Principal Investigator was Dr. Rudolf A. Hanel. These data were previously archived at NASA NSSDC under the entry ID ESAD-00093 (originally 70-025A-03A).

THIRN5L1CH67 is the Nimbus-5 Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) Level 1 Meteorological Radiation Data at 6.7 microns product and contains radiances expressed in units of equivalent brightness temperature measured in the 6.7 micron channel. The data, originally written on IBM 360 machines, were recovered from magnetic tapes, also referred to as Nimbus Meteorological Radiation Tapes (NMRT-THIR). The data are archived in their original IBM 36-bit word proprietary format, also referred to as a binary TAP file. The Nimbus-5 satellite was successfully launched on December 11, 1972. The THIR experiment on Nimbus-5 continued the measurements made by its predecessor flown on Nimbus-4. The THIR instrument is a two channel high resolution scanning radiometer designed to perform two major functions:* 11.5 micron channel provides both day and night cloud top or surface temperatures. The ground resolution at the sub-point is 8 km and operates day and night.* 6.7 micron channel gives information on the moisture content of the upper troposphere and stratosphere and the location of jet streams and frontal systems. The water vapor channel has a resolution of the sub-point is 22 km and operates mostly at night. The THIR Principal Investigator was Andrew W. McCulloch from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Nimbus-5 THIR data are available from December 19, 1972 (day of year 354) through August 26, 1974 (day of year 238). The THIRN5L1CH115 product contains the 11.5 micron channel data. This product was previously available from the NSSDC with the identifier ESAD-00167 (old ID 72-097A-08D).

The Nimbus 2 Medium Resolution Infrared Radiometer (MRIR) was designed to measure electromagnetic radiation emitted and reflected from the earth and its atmosphere at 5 wavelengths. The five wavelengths regions are as follows:* 6.7 to 6.9 microns: This channel covers the 6.7 micron water vapor absorption band. Its purpose is to provide information on water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere and, in conjunction with the other channels to provide relative humidities at these altitudes* 10 to 11 microns: 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).* 14 to 16 microns: This channel, centered about the strong absorption band of C02 at 15 microns, measures radiation which emanates primarily from the stratosphere.* 5 to 30 microns: This channel measures the emitted long wavelength infrared energy and, in conjunction with the reflected solar radiation channel furnishes data on the heat budget of the planet.* 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.The Nimbus 2 HRIR data are stored in a binary TAP format (proprietary Tape emulated format) .The MRIR instrument was launched on the Nimbus-2 satellite and was operational from May 15, 1966 through July 28, 1966.