High-resolution dynamics limb sounder

The high-resolution dynamics limb sounder (HIRDLS) is an instrument on board the NASA Aura. It follows in the heritage of LRIR (Nimbus-6), LIMS and SAMS (Nimbus-7), ISAMS and CLAES (UARS). It was designed to observe global distribution of temperature and concentrations of O₃, H₂O, CH₄, N₂O, NO₂, HNO₃, N₂O₅, CFC-11, CFC-12, ClONO₂, and aerosols in the upper troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere.^[1]

After launch, activation of the HIRDLS instrument revealed that the optical path was blocked so that only 20% of the aperture could view the Earth's atmosphere. Engineering studies suggest that a piece of thermal blanketing material ruptured from the back of the instrument during the explosive decompression of launch. Attempts to remove this material mirror failed. However, even with the 80% blockage, measurements at high vertical resolution can be made at one scan angle. HIRDLS failed in March 2008.^[2]

• Atmospheric chemistry observational databases
• International Global Atmospheric Chemistry
• Microwave limb sounder

• NASA Aura HIRDLS page.

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