Shortwave IR Window Channel (3.9 micron)

Introduction: Channel Location (Page 1 of 4)

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First graphic shows interactions of shortwave infrared radiation with clouds, atmosphere, and Earth's surface; and second graphic shows the spectral coverage of the GOES 3.9 micron channel within the shortwave infrared portion of the Earth's emitted spectrum A graphic showing the overlap region near 3.9 microns between the solar and earth emitted blackbody radiance curves

The 3.9 micron channel is located within the shortwave window region of the earth's emitted spectrum. Radiation in this wavelength region is not significantly attenuated by the earth's atmosphere.

Notice the scale on the left-hand graph. There is much less earth-emitted energy in this wavelength region than at longer wavelengths; hence, GOES uses a different type of detector that is more sensitive to radiation in this spectral region.

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