The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicCarried on MetOp, the IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) instrument measures infrared radiation emitted from the surface of the Earth to derive atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles of unprecedented accuracy and vertical resolution. The high resolution allows small concentrations of atmospheric gases to also be derived.
IASI will supply:
Temperature profiles in the troposphere and lower stratosphere with an accuracy of 1° Kelvin and a vertical resolution of 1 kilometre in the lower troposphere.
Humidity profiles in the troposphere with an accuracy of 10% and vertical resolution of 1 kilometre in the lower troposphere.
The total amount of ozone in a column with an accuracy of 5% and fractional cloud cover and cloud top temperature and pressure.
Sea and land surface temperatures.
In addition, IASI will measure the total column content of the main greenhouse gases.