Editing Multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer (section)

{{Short description|Imaging sensor on board NASA's Terra satellite}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
[[File:PIA21581 - NASA's MISR Tracks Growth of Rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Annotated Version.jpg|thumb|Cracks in [[Larsen Ice Shelf#Larsen C]], 2016.]]
[[File:PIA21100 Severe Air Pollution in New Delhi View by NASA's MISR.jpg|thumb|Measure of [[air pollution in Delhi]], Nov. 5, 2016.]]

The '''multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer''' ('''MISR''') is a scientific instrument on the [[Terra (satellite)|Terra satellite]] launched by [[NASA]] on 18 December 1999. This device is designed to measure the intensity of [[solar radiation]] reflected by the [[Earth]] system ([[planetary surface]] and [[Atmosphere of Earth|atmosphere]]) in various directions and [[spectral bands]]; it became operational in February 2000. Data generated by this sensor have been proven useful in a variety of applications including [[atmospheric sciences]], [[climatology]] and monitoring terrestrial processes.

The MISR instrument consists of an innovative configuration of nine separate [[digital camera]]s that gather data in four different spectral bands of the [[solar spectrum]]. One camera points toward the [[nadir]], while the others provide forward and aftward view angles at 26.1°, 45.6°, 60.0°, and 70.5°. As the instrument flies overhead, each region of the Earth's surface is successively imaged by all nine cameras in each of four [[wavelength]]s (blue, green, red, and [[near-infrared]]).

The data gathered by MISR are useful in climatological studies concerning the disposition of the solar [[radiation flux]] in the Earth's system. MISR is specifically designed to monitor the monthly, seasonal, and long-term trends of atmospheric [[Particulate|aerosol]] particle concentrations including those formed by natural sources and by human activities, upper air winds and cloud cover, type, height, as well as the characterization of land surface properties, including the structure of [[Canopy (biology)|vegetation canopies]], the distribution of [[land cover]] types, or the properties of [[Snow field|snow]] and [[ice field]]s, amongst many other biogeophysical variables.