Characteristics of the GOES I-M Imager and Sounder

The design and the parameters of the improved thermal-imaging and sounding instruments (the Imager and the Sounder) that will be part of the instrument complements of the next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES I-M) are discussed. The new design incorporates many features that enhance instrumental reliability over the previous GOES radiometric instruments, such as independently functioning Sounder and Imager, redundancy, and more reliable position sensors and lubrication methods. Tables are presented which list the instrument parameters of the GOES I-M Imager and Sounder and the performance characteristics of the two instruments.