AIRS observations provide radiances, temperature and humidity profiles, cloud properties, and concentrations of various atmospheric gases, which are used in a variety of applications such as the ones described below
Weather
AIRS radiances are assimilated daily in operational global weather prediction systems improving the accuracy of weather forecasts and re-analysis. AIRS is used directly for decision making associated with weather events by federal (NOAA/NWS) and state agencies for CONUS severe storms, tropical cyclones, atmospheric turbulence, and atmospheric rivers. MORE
Volcanoes
Plume detection and characterization (SO2 and ash amounts) support aviation. A fully automated volcano plume detection rapid response system developed at JPL uses near real-time data from AIRS, provides imagery, email alerts, and maintains an event archive. MORE
Drought
AIRS products are used in the weekly US Drought Monitoring map used by policymakers to help determine drought relief allocations and declarations of drought. MORE
Wildfires
AIRS monitors global CO emissions from wildfires and can also be used to assess CONUS wildfire risks by combining AIRS vapor pressure deficit with the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). MORE
Health
AIRS humidity observations have been used to elucidate relationships between humidity and seasonal influenza outbreaks and in influenza prediction models (LA County). MORE
Atmospheric Models
AIRS data is used for validation of weather, dispersion and seasonal forecast models.
