EarthCARE’s multispectral imager for wide-scene context

ESA’s EarthCARE satellite carries four instruments, one of which is the multispectral imager.

While the lidar and radar provide profiles of the atmosphere in a rather thin curtain directly underneath the satellite, EarthCARE’s multispectral imager provides a much wider field of view to give context to the profile measurements.

The multispectral imager captures high-resolution images in multiple spectral bands in the visible and infrared spectrum, which will allow scientists to differentiate between various types of clouds, aerosols and Earth’s surface.

The imager provides additional information about the optical properties of clouds and aerosols, aiding in the characterisation of their composition and distribution. In addition, it allows for the generation of a three-dimensional cloud and aerosol field using the atmospheric lidar and cloud profiling radar data. These data are crucial for understanding the radiative impact of clouds and aerosols on Earth’s climate system.

Read more about EarthCARE’s instrument package