[5] The goal of the NOAA/NESS polar orbiting program is to provide output products used in meteorological prediction and warning, oceanographic and hydrologic services, and space environment monitoring.

The AVHRR/3 adds a sixth channel and is a cross-track scanning instrument providing imaging and radiometric data in the visible, near-IR and infrared of the same area on the Earth.

Data from the visible and near-IR channels provide information on vegetation, clouds, snow, and ice.

Data from the near-IR and thermal channels provide information on the land and ocean surface temperature and radiative properties of clouds.

[7] The improved HIRS/4 on the Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) NOAA K-N series of polar orbiting meteorological satellites is a 20-channel, step-scanned, visible and infrared spectrometer designed to provide atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles.

The HIRS/4 instrument is basically identical to the HIRS/3 flown on previous spacecraft except for changes in six spectral bands to improve the sounding accuracy.

[8] The AMSU-A is an instrument on the Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) NOAA K-N series of operational meteorological satellites.

The AMSU-A is a line-scan instrument designed to measure scene radiance in 15 channels, ranging from 23.8 to 89 GHz, to derive atmospheric temperature profiles from the Earth's surface to about 3 millibar pressure height.

[9] The MHS is a new instrument on the Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) NOAA K-N series of operational meteorological satellites.

[10] The SEM-2 on the Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) NOAA K-N series of polar orbiting meteorological satellites provides measurements to determine the population of the Earth's radiation belts and data on charged particle precipitation in the upper atmosphere as a result of solar activity.

The DPU sorts and counts the events and the results are multiplexed and incorporated into the satellite telemetry system.

[11] The SBUV/2 on the Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) NOAA K-N series of polar orbiting meteorological satellites is a dual monochrometer ultraviolet grating spectrometer for stratospheric ozone measurements.

[14] The TIP formats low bit rate instruments and telemetry to tape recorders and direct read-out.

The MIRP process high data rate AVHRR to tape recorders (GAC) and direct read-out (HRPT and LAC).