The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is an
advanced sounder containing 2378 infrared channels and four visible/near-infrared channels, aimed
at obtaining highly accurate temperature profiles within the atmosphere plus a variety of additional Earth/atmosphere products.
In combination with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) and the Humidity Sounder for Brazil (HSB), AIRS constitutes an innovative
atmospheric sounding group that provides accurate temperature and humidity profiles throughout the atmosphere with global coverage
twice daily (day and night) on a 1:30pm sun synchronous orbit. AIRS provides high accuracy retrievals of temperature; however,
biases occur in the presence of dust or cirrus clouds that are difficult to correct for in the retrieval algorithm.
In this task you will analyze AIRS spectra taken on 23 July 2006, off the west coast of Africa. See MODIS true color image and
aerosol optical depth collocated with AIRS pixel here. Using AIRS spectra compute brightness temperature
and determine changes (biases) in brightness temperasture caused by dust.
AIRS data