Website header

High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder

The High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) instrument provides measurements of temperature, trace constituents and aerosols from the middle troposphere to the mesosphere, with a key attribute of high vertical resolution. HIRDLS will also provide key measurements of atmospheric aerosols and cirrus clouds, as well as unique measurements of sub-visible cirrus.


Introduction to HIRDLS V4 Data

Data from the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) have high vertical resolution, and the ability to sound the UTLS.

HIRDLS' vertical and horizontal resolution allows observation of thin layers (laminae) of trace gases in the UT/LS. Orbital spacing and timing gives reasonable sampling of dynamical events.

The frequency of these laminae increases through the winter, reaching a maximum in April, roughly consistent with the frequency of baroclinic eddies. They are much less frequent In the summer and autumn.

Tropospheric Intrusion Event 2,3,4 April 2006

These plots trace the eastward motion of the low ozone parcel, as well as its deformation.

HIRDLS News

Data version V004 (HIRDLS ID 2.04.19) is now being released. This release adds three new data products (F11, F12 and aerosol extinction) and significantly enhances those currently available (T, O3, HNO3, cloud tops).

A HIRDLS Science Team meeting was held at the University of Oxford on June 26-27, 2008. Presentations from this meeting are available here.

HIRDLS Data

Data version V004 (HIRDLS ID 2.04.19) is available from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Earth Sciences (GES) Data and Information Services Center (DISC) .

Documentation

Data Description and Quality, Version 004 pdf.

Gallery

To view a collection of HIRDLS images, click here .

Mailing List

To subscribe to the HIRDLS e-mailing list, please visit this page. Note that we allow only HIRDLS team members to post to the mailing list.