HIRDLS
Programme background
NASA launched the Aura earth observation satellite on 15 July 2004. Aura provides vital information on global air quality and the ozone layer.
NERC invested £17m on one instrument onboard the satellite - the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS).
HIRDLS measures temperatures and atmospheric composition, including ozone, water vapour and aerosol particulates in the upper layers of the atmosphere to understand processes affecting climate change. These measurements will be at an unprecedented high spatial resolution, revealing processes that are virtually unobservable by current satellite instruments. HIRDLS is an Anglo/American project. The UK science team involves the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories and Oxford and Reading Universities. BAE Systems and Astrium are involved in providing parts of the hardware.