VIIRS

VIIRS, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, is a 22-band scanning radiometer flying on Suomi NPP, launched October 2011, and the NOAA JPSS satellites NOAA-20 and NOAA-21. It scans a 3060 km swath at 375 m and 750 m resolution with near-daily global coverage, succeeding MODIS and AVHRR. For the ocean it delivers sea surface temperature, ocean color and chlorophyll, and a Day/Night Band sensitive enough to image moonlit cloud, lights, and fishing fleets at night. VIIRS continues the climate SST and ocean-productivity records and supports operational marine and ice forecasting at NOAA.