Title: A new Tool for the NASA Earth Science Community: AVIRIS-ng Status
Author: Louise Hamlin
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Co-Authors: R. O. Green, P. Mouroulis, M. Eastwood, I. McCubbin, D. Wilson, D. Randall, M. Dudik, C. Paine

Abstract:
Contiguous spectral measurements in the image domain made by the NASA Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) have been used to advance a range of science investigations over the past two decades. Starting in 2009, NASA began development of a next generation AVIRIS (AVIRIS-ng) to enable significant advances in imaging spectrometry.

AVIRIS-ng is designed to exceed the spectral, radiometric and spatial measurement capabilities of AVIRIS-classic and support existing and new science. Specific fields of research AVIRIS-ng may contribute to include, but are not be limited to, (1) Atmospheric composition: Measuring the presence and distribution of water vapor, aerosols and other constituents in the atmosphere, (2) Ecology: Measuring species such as chlorophyll, leaf water, lignin, cellulose, other pigments, establishing functional types and structures, (3) Geology and soils: measuring mineralogy, soil type, (4) Coastal and Inland waters: Measuring chlorophyll, plankton, dissolved organics, sediments, informing bottom composition, (5) Snow and Ice Hydrology: Measuring snow fraction cover, grainsizes, impurities , (6) Biomass Burning: subpixel temperatures and extent, smoke, combustion products, (7) Environmental hazards: assessment and monitoring of environmental hazards such as toxic waste, oil spills, land/air/water pollution, (8) Commercial applications: mineral exploration, agriculture and forest status, (9) Measuring and monitoring human infrastructure.

AVIRIS-ng has now completed instrument build and instrument characterization. There are plans to complete calibration and make the instrument available for use by the community by the end of 2011. Early results indicate that the instrument meets or exceeds all requirements for signal-to-noise, uniformity, spectral, radiometric and spatial calibration. This excellent calibration enables the extremely precise measurements next generation science questions demand. We present current status of this remarkable instrument.