UH-1
UH-1 Huey

The Modular Multiband Radiometer (MMR) is an airborne multispectral radiometer manufactured by Barnes Engineering Company. The MMR measures radiance across 8 spectral bands spanning the infrared and visible wavelengths (0.4-12.5 μm), producing images of vegetation and other surface features. At an altitude of 300 meters, the MMR has an instantaneous field of view (IFOV) of about 79 meters and a 15-degree field of view (FOV). It is typically deployed on small aircraft, such as helicopters, but can also be used on ground-based platforms.

C-band scatterometers are active, non-imaging scatterometers that measure microwave backscatter. They are typically used to measure ocean surface winds but can also measure ice, vegetation, and soil surface properties. They operate in the C-band frequency range (4-8 GHz) and can provide measurements during both daytime and nighttime.

The Spectron Engineering-590 (SE-590) Spectroradiometer is a portable instrument manufactured by Spectron Engineering. It can be used on both airborne and ground-based platforms. The SE-590 uses a charge-coupled device (CCD) area array detector to measure reflectance. It operates across the visible to short-wave infrared spectral range (350-2500 nm). The SE-590 has a ground resolution of 4.5 meters when flown at an altitude of 300 meters.

The Airborne Tracking Sun Photometer (ATSP) is an airborne instrument that measures direct solar beam transmission. The ATSP captures solar beam transmission across multiple channels spanning wavelengths from 354 to 2139 nm. These measurements can be used to determine aerosol optical depth and other aerosol characteristics. Several versions of this instrument exist, including one developed by the NASA Ames Research Center.

The POLarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectances (POLDER) is a spaceborne passive radiometer aboard the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Advanced Earth Observing Satellite. POLDER has also been used in several airborne investigations to calibrate instruments and measure surface reflectance and solar radiation. POLDER has a ground spatial resolution of 7 km by 6 km at nadir and operates across eight discrete spectral bands (443 nm - 910 nm).

Video cameras capture footage of various phenomena for research. They are used on aircraft to provide continuous views of weather and terrain below the flight path. Video cameras are also employed to verify the aircraft's flight track. Additionally, they are deployed at field sites to monitor changes in vegetation, land cover, clouds, air quality, glaciers, and other Earth science phenomena.