The advanced baseline imager: the next generation of geostationary imager

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R (GOES-R) Series is the planned next generation of operational weather satellites for the United State’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The first launch of the GOES-R series is planned for 2012. The GOES-R Series satellites and instruments are being developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). One of the key instruments on the GOES-R Series is the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). The ABI is a multi-channel, visible through infrared, passive imaging radiometer. The ABI will provide moderate spatial and spectral resolution at high temporal and radiometric resolution to accurately monitor rapidly changing weather. The ABI will provide sixteen spectral channels compared to five channels on the current GOES I/P Series Imager. This increase will allow more comprehensive monitoring of atmospheric conditions such as aerosol concentration, cirrus cloud location, and cloud properties. In addition, ABI will provide data products with a spatial resolution of at least half the current imager, down to 0.5 Km in the visible band. With its high temporal coverage, full disk every 5 minutes, and ability to continue operations around local midnight, ABI will provide continuous and timely monitoring of weather. This is further augmented by ABI's ability to revisit a specified 1000 Kilometer region every 30 seconds to track severe weather. This paper discusses the anticipated performance characteristics of the ABI sensor. The key data products achievable from the ABI are also discussed.