Medium-resolution imaging spectrometer

MERIS is a passive optical instrument, that will fly on the First Polar Orbiting Earth observation mission ENVISAT 1, scheduled for launch mid 1998. The study and development of this instrument is currently carried by an international team led by AEROSPATIALE. The instrument primary mission goal is to monitor bio-optical ocean parameters on a large scale. Secondary goals of MERIS include atmospheric investigation on cloud and aerosols parameters and on land surface processes. The instrument will perform 15 spectral images, programmable in width and position with a spectral sampling interval of 1.25 nm within the visible spectral range of 400 nm to 1050 nm. MERIS images will have a swath width of 1100 km and spatial resolution of 300 m.