Analyses - Satellite Instrument Inter-Calibration

Evaluating the on-orbit calibration of a satellite instrument relies on careful tracking of measurements taken from its internal temperature/electronics sensors and, when available, calibration targets. In addition, it depends upon measurement taken from well characterized and/or stable targets that are external to the instrument, e.g., Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars. When satellite instruments observe the same earth or celestial target over a time period when the target does not change considerably, then the measurements can be used for instrument inter-comparison and -calibration. The task of GSICS is to first gather as many measurements possible to evaluate and inter-compare instrument calibrations, and then to analyze these measurements to produce products that can be implemented by satellite data providers and users to improve the quality of satellite data products, numerical weather predictions, and climate analyses.